{"id":"F2025L00916","name":"Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code (Chemical Products) Standard 2025","slug":"agricultural-and-veterinary-chemicals-code-chemical-products-standard-2025","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":442916,"registerId":"F2025L00916-fast-fetch-1775957826811","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code (Chemical Products) Standard 2025","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n\n\n \n\nAgricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code (Chemical Products) Standard 2025\n\nI, Sheila Logan, Executive Director, Risk Assessment Capability, Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, make the following Standard.\n\nDated 6 August 2025\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nSheila Logan Executive Director, Risk Assessment Capability\n\nDelegate\n\nAustralian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority\n\nContents\n\n1 Name\n\n2 Commencement\n\n3 Authority\n\n4 Definitions\n\n5 Standards for chemical products................................2\n\n \n\n1 Name\n\n This instrument is the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code (Chemical Products) Standard 2025.\n\n2 Commencement\n\n This instrument commences on the day after it is registered.\n\n3 Authority\n\n This instrument is made under section 6E of the Schedule to the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994.\n\n4 Definitions\n\nNote: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in section 3 of the Code including the following:\n\n1. active constituent\n2. agricultural chemical product\n3. approved label\n4. chemical product\n5. substance\n6. veterinary chemical product\n\n\n \n\n In this instrument: \n\ndeclared content means the concentration of an active constituent in a chemical product as specified on the approved label for that product.\n\nCode means the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code set out in the Schedule to the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994.\n\nformulation type has the same meaning as in the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Regulations 1995.\n\nimpurity means a substance other than the active constituent that is present in a chemical product (including substances that are process byproducts or degradation products). \n\n \n\nspecified active content means the permitted range from the declared content within which the concentration of an active constituent must fall when measured using a validated analytical method.\n\nspecified impurity level means the permitted concentration, value, range or amount of an impurity when measured using a validated analytical method.\n\nvalidated analytical method means an analytical method validated in accordance with generally accepted scientific principles for the purpose of analysis of the relevant chemical or property.\n\n5 Standard for chemical products\n\n1. A chemical product with the active constituent listed in Column 1 of the following table that is of the type listed in Column 2 and the formulation type listed in Column 3 of that table must conform to the following:\n\n\n1. the relevant specified active content listed in Column 4 for that chemical product; and\n2. the specified impurity level listed in Column 5 for that chemical product. \n\n\nNote 1: Section 5A provides a definition of “meets the safety criteria” for the purposes of the Code. Subsection 5A(3) of the Code requires the APVMA to have regard to the matters specified in paragraph 5A(3)(a) for the purposes of being satisfied as to whether a chemical product meets the safety criteria. In particular, these matters include whether the product conforms, or would conform, to any standard made for the product under section 6E to the extent that the standard relates to matters covered by subsection 5A(1) (subparagraph 5A(3)(a)(via). \n\nNote 2: A person may commit an offence or be liable to a civil penalty if the person supplies a prescribed chemical product, or causes or permits a prescribed product to be supplied, if the product or an active constituent contained in the product does not conform with a standard prescribed in respect of the product or the active constituent contained in the product (see section 87 of the Code and regulation 42 of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Regulations 1995).\n\n| Column 1
Active constituent(s) | Column 2
Type | Column 3
Formulation type | Column 4
Specified active content | Column 5
Specified Impurity Levels |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Malathion | Agricultural chemical product or veterinary chemical product | Emulsifiable concentrate (EC) | Declared malathion content up to and including 25 g/L: ±15%
Declared malathion content above 25 g/L up to and including 100 g/L: ±10%
Declared malathion content above 100 g/L up to and including 250 g/L: ±6%
Declared malathion content above 250 g/L up to and including 500 g/L: ±5%
Declared malathion content above 500 g/L: ±25 g/L | Malaoxon: maximum 0.1% of the measured malathion content
Isomalathion: maximum 0.8% of the measured malathion content
O,O,S-trimethylphosphorothioate (MeOOSPO): maximum 0.5% of the measured malathion content |\n| Malathion | Agricultural chemical product or veterinary chemical product | Emulsions, oil‑in‑water (EW) | Declared malathion content up to and including 25 g/L: ±15%
Declared malathion content above 25 g/L up to and including 100 g/L: ±10%
Declared malathion content above 100 g/L up to and including 250 g/L: ±6%
Declared malathion content above 250 g/L up to and including 500 g/L: ±5%
Declared malathion content above 500 g/L: ±25 g/L | Malaoxon: maximum 0.8% of the measured malathion content
Isomalathion: maximum 0.6% of the measured malathion content
O,O,S-trimethylphosphorothioate (MeOOSPO): maximum 0.5% of the measured malathion content |\n| Malathion | Agricultural chemical product | Ultra‑low volume liquid (UL) |
Declared malathion content 500 g/L and above: ±25 g/L
| Malaoxon: maximum 0.1% of the measured malathion content
Isomalathion: maximum 0.4% of the measured malathion content
O,O,S-trimethylphosphorothioate (MeOOSPO): maximum 0.5% of the measured malathion content
O,S,S-trimethylphosphorodithioate (MeOSSPO): maximum 0.01% of the measured malathion content |\n| Malathion | Agricultural chemical product or veterinary chemical product | Dustable powder (DP) | Declared malathion content up to and including 25 g/kg: ±25%
Declared malathion content above 25 g/kg up to and including 100 g/kg: within -10% and +25% | Malaoxon: maximum 0.1% of the measured malathion content
Isomalathion: maximum 2.5% of the measured malathion content
O,O,S-trimethylphosphorothioate (MeOOSPO): maximum 0.5% of the measured malathion content |\n\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument appears tightly scoped to its original purpose. It is a specific technical standard made under section 6E of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994, which expressly authorises the APVMA to make standards for chemical products regarding their composition. The instrument deals solely with malathion product specifications and does not appear to have expanded beyond this mandate."},"complexity_factors":["Only 6 defined terms in the instrument itself, with 6 additional terms incorporated by reference from the parent Code","Single operative section (section 5) with straightforward tabular format","Limited conditional logic — standards apply based on three clear criteria (active constituent, product type, formulation type)","No nested exceptions or complex cross-referencing beyond incorporation of parent Act definitions","Highly specific technical content (chemical names, concentration ranges) but presented in accessible table format","Two explanatory notes providing context without adding operational complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument sets mandatory quality and safety standards for malathion-containing chemicals — requiring specified active‑ingredient levels and strict limits on toxic impurities (like malaoxon and isomalathion) across common formulations. \n\nIt affects manufacturers, suppliers, farmers and veterinarians by ensuring products are effective and safe; breaches can trigger civil penalties or criminal charges under the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument does not widen which products are regulated; it specifies numerical standards for malathion formulations within the existing Code framework. It operates under the APVMA's delegated power (s.6E) to set standards and ties conformity to the APVMA's safety assessment (Note 1 referencing s.5A(3)), while placing compliance and penalty risk on product manufacturers and suppliers (Note 2 referencing s.87 and reg 42)."},"complexity_factors":["Technical analytical requirements: requires use of a 'validated analytical method' for measuring active content and impurities (Definitions, s.4).","Formulation-specific tolerances: different percentage or absolute tolerances apply by declared content bands and formulation type (s.5 table).","Detailed impurity specifications: multiple named impurities with distinct numeric caps tied to measured malathion content (s.5 table).","Enforcement interlock: non-conformity attracts offence or civil penalty risk (Note 2 to s.5 referencing s.87 of the Code and reg 42 of the Regulations), creating compliance burden for suppliers.","Statutory cross‑references and delegated rulemaking: standard relies on definitions and safety-assessment criteria in the Code and Regulations (Authority s.3; Note 1 referencing s.5A(3) and s.6E)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Standard prescribes mandatory concentration tolerances and maximum impurity limits for malathion in specific formulation types (EC, EW, UL, DP) for agricultural and veterinary chemical products and requires measurement by validated analytical methods. It applies to manufacturers and suppliers, who must ensure declared active content and impurity levels meet the table limits or risk criminal or civil penalties (see Note 2 referring to section 87 of the Code); the APVMA made the Standard under section 6E and will regard conformity when assessing safety (see Note 1 on section 5A(3))."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/agricultural-and-veterinary-chemicals-code-chemical-products-standard-2025","history":"/api/acts/agricultural-and-veterinary-chemicals-code-chemical-products-standard-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/agricultural-and-veterinary-chemicals-code-chemical-products-standard-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/agricultural-and-veterinary-chemicals-code-chemical-products-standard-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/agricultural-and-veterinary-chemicals-code-chemical-products-standard-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/agricultural-and-veterinary-chemicals-code-chemical-products-standard-2025/documents"}}