Chemical Management Branch

The Chemical Management Branch is responsible for the oversight of agricultural and veterinary chemical issues. It administers legislation to control the use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals, applies fertiliser standards and regulates animal identification systems. The Branch administers commercial spray contractor and operator licensing, authorises the use of certain restricted products, coordinates residue surveillance and management programs and liaises with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to provide product compliance and enforcement activities.

• Administer and maintain legislation for controlling use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals and fertilisers
• Develop chemicals policy (National and State) and Codes of Practice
• Undertake Ministerial liaison
• Oversee programs to manage chemical residues in agricultural produce
• Grant spray operator licences, certificates of competency and permits to use certain chemicals like 2,4-D, 1080 and mevinphos
• Participate as a member of the national Product Safety and Integrity Committee (PSIC).

Chemicals Coordinator

• Providing scientific and technical advice on pesticides and veterinary medicines
• Providing advice on the registration and application of pesticides and veterinary medicines
• Member of the Registration Liaison Committee of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)
• Coordinating scientific and technical input into APVMA efficacy reviews
• State coordinator for off-label permits, chemical reviews and compliance and surveillance programs.

Contact: Chemicals Coordinator

Stuart Bowman
165 Westbury Road PROSPECT TAS 7250 TAS
Phone: 03 6336 5462
Fax: 03 6336 5374
Email: Stuart.Bowman@dpipwe.tas.gov.au

Veterinary Officer (Chemical Management)

• Coordinating the development and implementation of animal identification and traceback systems across Tasmania’s livestock industries
• Overseeing the administration of the agency’s regulatory activities associated with livestock identification and traceback
• Providing technical and policy advice on livestock identification and traceback and occasionally on veterinary chemical matters to senior management and local and national stakeholders
• Developing and maintaining effective communication on livestock identification and traceback matters with government and industry groups, livestock producers and the wider community.

Contact: Veterinary Officer - CMB

John Cameron
165 Westbury Road
PROSPECT 7249
Phone: 03 6336 5226
Fax: 03 6344 4961
Email: John.Cameron@dpipwe.tas.gov.au

Residues Coordinator

• Coordinate chemical residue management and surveillance programs, including surveys, field investigations and compliance activities
• Provide professional and technical advice to all levels of industry and government on the management of chemical residues in agricultural production systems
• Monitor the use of chemicals in Tasmanian agriculture and develop strategies for reducing reliance on their use
• Maintain effective liaison and communication with the National Residue Survey and other Government and industry groups associated with chemical residue programs
• Perform the role of State Residue Coordinator for national residue management programs.

• Providing the first point of contact for people reporting incidents or concerns about pesticides and their usage
• Investigating spray drift complaints and other incidents involving agricultural chemicals
• Communication strategies for promoting best practice in chemical management and raising public awareness of systems to regulate and manage chemical use.

Licence Coordinator

• Developing, managing and maintaining chemical user licensing standards and procedures
• Providing advice to government agencies, training organisations, industry and the community on issues relating to training, accreditation and licensing of chemical users
• Administering the chemical user licensing system, including maintenance of the AGVET database, communication with chemical users; assessing and processing applications for chemical user licences and agricultural spraying permits for endorsement by the Registrar of Chemical Products or delegate
• Developing and coordinating programs to monitor compliance with licensing and permit provisions of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1995

Registrar of Animal Brands

• Allocation of PIC Property Identification Codes
• Auditing National Vendor Declarations (NVD) for cattle, sheep , goats and pigs
• Providing Withholding Period (WHP) information
• Approving primary producers, livestock agents, Department staff and other stake holders on all requirements of (NLIS) National Livestock Identification System
• Inspecting/auditing compliance with chemical residue control programs at cattle sales and abattoirs in Tasmania
• Tracing and identification of stock.

Contact: Registrar of Animal Brands

Andrea Howard
Registrar of Animal Brands
Chemical Management Branch
13 St Johns Avenue
NEW TOWN TAS 7008
Phone: 03 6233 3565
Fax: 03 6233 3843
Email: Andrea.Howard@dpipwe.tas.gov.au

Field Services Coordinator

• Contributing to the planning and development of field-based activity programs associated with compliance, residue surveillance and livestock identification, and coordinating the implementation and delivery of these programs statewide
• Coordinating property and saleyard audit programs, including the European Union Cattle Accreditation Scheme audit program
• Overseeing the work of stock inspectors
• Investigating and auditing compliance with legislation, standards and guidelines relating to the use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals and the application of livestock identification systems
• Providing advice to clients on legislation and best practice in chemical and residue management, livestock identification and quality assurance programs
• Monitoring the import, storage, sale and transport of agricultural and veterinary chemicals
• Investigating incidents and complaints associated with chemical use
• Providing technical assistance and coordinating field-based activities related to animal health programs, including emergency animal disease response.

Contact: Field Services Coordinator

Doug Bester
165 Westbury Road
PROSPECT TAS 7250
Phone: 03 6336 5341
Fax: 03 6336 5374
Email: Doug.Bester@dpipwe.tas.gov.au

Wild Animal Management Officer (North-West)

• Vermin control
• Applying the Vermin Destruction Act
• Supervision and mixing of 1080, alphachloralose, and pindone in the North and North-East.

Wild Animal Management Officer (South)

• Vermin control
• Applying the Vermin Destruction Act
• Supervision and mixing of 1080, alphachloralose, and pindone in the South
• Collating data on the usage of vertebrate pest poisons.

This page - http://www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/EGIL-52N47X?open - was last published on 23 May 2013 by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. Questions concerning its content can be sent to Internet Coordinator by using the feedback form, by mail to GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7001, or by telephone.

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