PACIA has welcomed the release of the Federal Government's Annual Red Tape Reduction Report 2015 but warns that further reforms are needed to fully realise the benefits for the Australian economy.
“Regulatory reform is critical to Australia's competitiveness and ability to become a key supplier to growing global markets. Our regulatory system must encourage investment in new chemistries and products that enable our domestic value chains to seize these global growth opportunities,” said Ms Samantha Read, PACIA CEO.
“These new chemistries also have the potential to deliver significant improvements in health and safety, environmental and productivity outcomes.
“The Red Tape Reduction Report shows that good progress has been made, with improvements that will benefit not only industry, but all Australians. This ongoing program has the potential to deliver real and meaningful reforms for the Australian economy, as well as assisting industry to be more competitive. However, there is still more work to be done particularly on the reform of the NICNAS scheme.
“We also welcome the Government's continuing commitment to accept international risk assessments. This will allow the industry and its customers to access new and innovative chemistries at the same time as their overseas competitors. This principle must be recognised in the context of ongoing regulatory reforms taking place such as the reform of NICNAS and APVMA.
“Our members in the chemistry industry welcome any opportunities to harmonise chemical regulation, whether in health and safety, environment or transportation, to reduce cost and burden for industry while delivering substantial economic and productivity benefits for Australia,” Ms Read said.
Media contact: Krista Imberger – [email protected] or 0439 318 290
PACIA is the national voice for the strategically significant $45 billion Australian chemistry industry, one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the country. The industry employs more than 64,000 people and contributes more than $11.5 billion to GDP in industry value add. Ranging in size from small family-owned businesses to national and multi-national enterprises, PACIA members include chemicals manufacturers, importers and distributors, logistics and supply chain partners, raw material suppliers, plastics fabricators and compounders, chemicals and plastics recyclers and service providers to the industry.
