The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) published on July 6, 2015, the final report entitled Nanotechnologies for pesticides and veterinary medicines: regulatory considerations. According to the report, its objective is to highlight the regulatory issues that need to be considered when bringing agricultural or veterinary (agvet) chemical products of nanotechnology to the Australian market. The report addresses relevant aspects of nanotechnology including definitions, metrology, physicochemical properties, manufacture, and the potential impacts on human health and the environment. The report states: “Every attempt has been made to ensure the information on this rapidly-evolving field was current at the time of writing. The report represents a first attempt to offer a blueprint on the regulatory considerations applicable to nanotechnology in Australian agriculture and animal husbandry.” According to the report, the general consensus is that, for the foreseeable future, existing regulatory frameworks developed for macroscale chemicals will be used to regulate nanomaterials. Over time, the report states, the framework will evolve as new information highlighting limitations in the current risk assessment paradigm becomes available. APVMA intends to use the report to develop a final regulatory approach for nanotechnology products, including:

• Building capability and expertise so new products can be evaluated effectively;
• Analyzing the data requirements;
• Enhancing the existing regulatory framework if required as knowledge evolves; and
• Continuing to engage with the international scientific community so that the latest research is being considered.

[View source.]