New Zealand approves reform to accelerate agricultural compound and veterinary medicine approvals

New Zealand’s Parliament has passed legislation designed to streamline approvals for agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines. The reforms aim to introduce more proportionate regulatory pathways while maintaining safeguards for animal health, human health, trade and agricultural security.

New Zealand’s Parliament has cleared a bill aimed at speeding access to agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines, a change industry says could make the primary sector more responsive to disease pressure, pest control and productivity needs. The reform matters because it seeks to shorten approval pathways without weakening safety checks, an issue with direct implications for farm competitiveness, biosecurity and innovation uptake. The next test is whether the detailed regulations can turn that political intent into workable rules.

Animal and Plant Health NZ said the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill passed its third reading by 101 votes to 21, signalling unusual cross-party backing for a more streamlined regulatory regime. The industry body said the measure reflects years of advocacy for a system that is proportionate, transparent and faster, while still preserving New Zealand-specific scrutiny.

According to the bill as introduced and later reported back from select committee, the changes are designed to modernise the approval pathway, including powers for the Director-General to exempt certain products from registration where conditions are met. The legislation also follows recommendations from the Agricultural and Horticultural Products Regulatory Review.

Dr Liz Shackleton, APHANZ’s chief executive, said the focus now shifts to consultation on the regulations, which will determine how far the reform succeeds in practice. She said the sector still wants broader changes to the hazardous substances framework completed, arguing that modernisation must be matched by early engagement and clear accountability.

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