Stockfeeds red tape cut

Farmers will be $10 million better off a year following an Australian Government decision to cut red tape on some stockfeeds.

Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce, said that ensuring our farmers have access to high quality stockfeed to keep their livestock healthy was a critical part of farming and agriculture in Australia.

"We have taken the necessary steps to reduce cumbersome red tape and unnecessary regulation to improve this access to a range of low risk stockfeed products," Minister Joyce said.

The removal of regulations will affect products such as vitamins, dietary supplements, and some probiotic and enzyme products that are currently classified as veterinary chemicals.

"The new regulations will still contain effective measures to safeguard human and animal health, environmental or trade risks that could jeopardise Australia's $38 billion agricultural export trade.

"From 1 January 2015 the government, working with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, will make these low risk stockfeeds available to Australian farmers without the process costs and time an individual assessment can take."

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural Economics and Sciences (ABARES) estimated this move will save farmers between $7.5 million and $10 million a year.

"The Australian Government has an ambitious deregulation agenda and is focused on cutting unnecessary red tape and regulatory burdens on industry and the community," Minister Joyce said.

"While I'm thrilled to be contributing $10 million to the government's $1 billion a year red tape reduction target the best news is these improvements will allow faster access to innovative products for our farmers, helping their bottom line, while managing the risks appropriately."

Minister Joyce made the announcement during a visit to Leon's Pork Pty-a privately managed piggery in Gunnedah-located in the electorate of New England, NSW.

"In Australia, more than 11 million tonnes of stockfeed is used each year, and the pig industry accounts for about 14 per cent of that," Minister Joyce said.

"Our farmers look after the overall health of their livestock and this government is doing its part to look after the overall regulatory health of the industry."