Agsafe’s 20th Birthday
Agsafe is celebrating 20 years of helping businesses in the chemical supply industry with their compliance in work, health and safety legislation.
Over the next few months, Agsafe and its programs will be celebrating its 20th Birthday with a range of news and events.
Watch out for more news on this significant milestone in Rural Business magazine and our website.
A little on Agsafe’s history…
In October 1987, the board of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemical Association (AVCA – now CropLife Australia and the Animal Health Alliance) agreed to establish an accreditation and training scheme to provide safety advice and knowledge to rural retailers of agricultural chemicals.
To support compliance with Government legislation in particular, AVCA believed an industry-based scheme would be the most effective way of supporting the industry in meeting its health, safety and environmental obligations.
A committee made up of chemical distributors and manufacturers was established with the aim of developing a national program to provide advice and promote safety in the distribution and sale of agvet chemical products.
After considerable effort and review, staff training commenced in 1990 under the auspices of AVCA. Premises review and accreditation followed soon after in 1991, initially using a self-assessment process.
Since 1992, Agsafe has been authorised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to instigate trading sanctions on organisations and individuals who do not meet Agsafe accreditation obligations. This has been possible through the support of the agvet chemical suppliers –most recently through their membership of CropLife Australia and the Animal Health Alliance.
Early Milestones
- 1987: AVCA launches scheme to promote safety in the supply industry.
- 1990: Staff training begins.
- 1991: Premises accreditation by self-assessment begins.
- 1993: Agsafe created as an independent subsidiary of AVCA.
- 1994: ACCC Authorisation begins.
- 2002: Industry makes it compulsory for all supply chain businesses storing agricultural and veterinary chemicals (regardless of quantities) to be accredited through Agsafe.