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Department of Agriculture

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  1. Home
  2. Agriculture and land
  3. Farming, food and drought
  4. Agricultural and veterinary chemicals
  5. Importing and exporting chemicals

Sidebar first - Farming

  • Agricultural and veterinary chemicals
    • Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority-Review of Cost Recovery Arrangements
    • Importing and exporting chemicals
    • Domestic policy
      • History of COAG reforms
        • A single national framework for the regulation of agricultural chemicals and veterinary medicines - funding model
        • A single national framework for the regulation of agricultural chemicals and veterinary medicines - regulatory model
        • Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to COAG
      • The Harmonised Agvet Chemical Control of Use Task group (HACCUT)
      • Harmonisation of off-label use in agricultural chemicals
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    • Improved access to agricultural and veterinary chemicals
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      • Methyl Bromide and the Montreal Protocol
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      • Streamlining the regulation of agvet chemicals
        • APVMA Board and Other Improvements Bill 2019
        • Recent Agvet Chemicals Regulations Amendments and Ministerial Orders
        • Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Legislation Amendment (Streamlining Regulation) Bill 2018
        • Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Legislation Amendment (Operational Efficiency) Bill 2017
        • Previous consultation
      • First Principles Review
      • Previous reviews related to agricultural and veterinary chemicals regulation
    • Chemical Regulation
    • Cost benefit and risk analysis of the potential relocation of the APVMA

Importing and exporting chemicals

Chemicals subject to the Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions

On 18 August 2004, Australia became a party to two international agreements relating to the trade of certain hazardous chemicals. These agreements are the:

  • Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
  • Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade

To implement these conventions, controls on import, manufacture, use and export have been introduced under the:

  • Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Regulations 1995 (Agvet Regulations)
  • Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956
  • Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958

The Agvet Regulations prohibit certain activities in relation to these chemicals either absolutely or subject to conditions. The Customs Regulations complement the Agvet Regulations by introducing controls at the border. For information on the import, export and use of chemicals listed under these conventions, please see the following links

Stockholm Convention
Rotterdam Convention

Applications for permission to import chemicals controlled under the Stockholm Convention must be made using the online permit application system.​​​

The Minamata Convention on Mercury and Lighting

The Mercury Convention addresses mercury releases through its lifecycle: mining, import and export, manufacture into products, emission and releases, contaminated sites, waste management, recovery and reuse.

Australia signed the Convention in October 2013 and is now considering ratifying the Convention and being bound by its requirements. More information on this convention can be found here.

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Last updated: 05 August 2021

© Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.