Pesticides Regulation Discussion Paper

Overview

Western Australia’s (WA) public health legislation has undergone a change to a more risk-based approach as part of an overall process of modernising the regulatory structure of public health. There are existing public health regulations that need to be considered in the development of new Public Health Act 2016 subsidiary legislation. The Pesticides Regulation Discussion Paper examines the existing regulatory environment of the pesticide industry and considers how the current safety measures may be re-constructed using a modern approach. 

This survey presents a series of options and proposals for regulating the application of pesticide chemicals. Respondents are encouraged to use quantitative data in their answers where possible.

Why your views matter

The objective of this review is to ensure appropriate measures are in place to minimise public health risks associated with the use of pesticides in WA. The Department of Health seeks to determine the best option for managing the public health risks associated with pesticide safety to meet community needs in the future. Principal stakeholders for the review will include:

• Local government including the WA Local Government Association (WALGA)
• State Government
• Individuals and organisations captured by pesticide safety regulations in WA
• Individuals using high risk pesticide chemicals exempted from licensing in WA
• Registered Training Organisations
• General public

The results of this consultation will inform the development of the reforms. It is intended to give a broad overview of stakeholder opinion, which will be incorporated into an implementation strategy once proposals are finalised.

What happens next

The results of this consultation will assist to determine whether the associated public health risks should continue to be regulated under the new regulatory framework, or whether they can be effectively managed through a guideline, local law or other legislation instead.