Australia and New Zealand sign agreement to advance mutual recognition of pesticide review and regulation

On November 24, 2025, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFS) and the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) officially signed a landmark mutual recognition agreement, establishing the first faster and more efficient access pathway for key pesticides and veterinary medicines within the region. This marks a new phase in agricultural regulatory cooperation between the two countries.

Vincent Arbuckle, Deputy Minister of Food Safety in New Zealand, stated: "The Food Safety Authority of New Zealand and the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) have signed an agreement today to share assessment outcomes for new products in the future. This collaboration will integrate both parties' infrastructure resources, benefiting the primary sector and related communities. Building on our existing strong cooperative relationship, we aim to further streamline workflows, reduce duplication, and significantly shorten approval timelines.". ″

Australia and New Zealand are jointly committed to making the region the preferred market for innovative agricultural products, benefiting farmers and broader society. ″

APVMA CEO Scott Hansen pointed out that under the agreement, both parties will enhance cooperation in areas such as product evaluation, cross-training of personnel, and improving the efficiency of regulatory processes. He stated, "The two countries share similar approaches in the regulation of agricultural chemicals and veterinary drugs, making it a natural step to expand collaboration for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.". ″

Earlier this year, New Zealand's regulatory authority recommended in the *Agricultural and Forestry Product Regulatory Review Report* that the New Zealand Food Safety Authority should more fully utilize the assessment outcomes of international regulatory bodies to save time and resources. Meanwhile, the APVMA also pledged to leverage international partnerships to achieve the efficiency improvement targets outlined in the Australian government's *Detailed Response Plan*.

Arbuckle emphasized: "This in-depth collaboration with Australia is a crucial step in the relevant process and will also serve as a model for future agreements with other regulatory bodies.". ″

Hansen concluded: "While each regulatory body must address the specific requirements of its legal framework, collaborating to meet these demands is not only key to enhancing productivity but also to continuously earning the trust of the public and the industry."