Less than twenty-four hours after A Current Affair aired Augustine Approved’s story to a national audience, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has been caught in a stunning reversal — finally admitting, through a Freedom of Information (FOI) release dated 2 October 2025, that it holds records from as far back as May 2014 relating to the company.
The APVMA ignored its statutory obligation to address Augustine Approved’s Formal Objection relating to two infringement notices issued in June 2025. Instead of acknowledging or determining it within a reasonable timeframe, the APVMA escalated unlawfully by issuing a coercive and overbearing s130 Notice to Produce on 11 September 2025 while the objection remained unresolved.
As at 6 October 2025, the Formal Objection has been left unanswered for 72 days, breaching procedural fairness and rendering both the infringement notices and the s130 Notice legally vulnerable to being quashed. The timing and breadth of the s130 demand appear to be an attempt to backfill evidence rather than to regulate proportionately.
This directly contradicts the APVMA’s repeated claims throughout 2024 that it had no record of any prior dealings with Augustine Approved. The revelation confirms what the company has alleged for over a year — that the regulator has either withheld information or failed to keep accurate records, misused statutory powers, and has misled Augustine Approved.
“Throughout 2024 the APVMA asked me to provide written evidence of past dealings with them, only to now admit — the morning after our story went to air — that they’ve had documents all along,” said Phivo Christodoulou, Managing Director of Augustine Approved. “If that’s not proof of concealment, I don’t know what is.”
NATIONAL ATTENTION AND PUBLIC OUTRAGE
The explosive A Current Affair feature, aired on 1 October 2025, has ignited public debate over the APVMA’s decade-long pursuit of a small, natural pet-health company. The segment can be viewed by clicking here.
In the program, Augustine Approved detailed 11 years of relentless harassment, including fines, coercive notices, and enforcement action over products made from everyday organic ingredients — such as coconut oil and turmeric — long recognised globally as safe.
The company’s formal response to the APVMA, submitted on 6 October 2025, demands the immediate withdrawal of the s130 Notice to Produce, citing abuse of process, procedural unfairness, and personal liability risks for senior officers.
PATTERN OF MISCONDUCT
The Commonwealth Ombudsman’s findings of 22 December 2017 identified APVMA failures to address complaints which led to several issues. According to the 2023 review commissioned by Agriculture Minister Murray Watt, "reviewers found the Authority failed to respond appropriately to complaints, keep adequate records and respond to complaints."
The current conduct mirrors that pattern and demonstrates systemic maladministration.
LEGAL ACTION AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
Earlier today, Augustine Approved also:
- Sent a formal letter to the Minister for Agriculture, The Hon. Julie Collins MP, calling for intervention and an independent review of the APVMA’s Monitoring and Compliance Division.
- Notified the relevant Magistrates’ Court to scrutinise any potential APVMA warrant applications, citing a lack of “reasonable belief” and possible misuse of affidavits.
- Filed submissions with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Commonwealth Ombudsman, citing systemic breaches of the Agvet Code, the PGPA Act, and the Public Service Act.
Mr. Christodoulou said the company will also seek Federal Court judicial review and will take civil action for damages arising from a decade of unlawful regulatory harassment.
“None of this is in the public interest. You don't need a medical or science degree to know that our products are safe. It's a complete waste of time that could be better spent doing what the APVMA were designed to do - assess and approve pesticides and actual veterinary medicines. It's no wonder that the APVMA came under fire from CropLife just last month for their sluggish performance" said Mr. Christodoulou.
THE FOI THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
The FOI decision released by the APVMA (Ref: FOI 2025/005) confirms the existence of a 2014 internal records, directly contradicting the regulator’s statements of having no prior knowledge of Augustine Approved’s products.
This single document — disclosed just hours after national broadcast exposure — may prove pivotal in any forthcoming legal proceedings. It not only undermines the Authority’s credibility but also revives serious questions about record-keeping breaches under the Archives Act and malfeasance in public office.
A CALL FOR FAIRNESS AND REFORM
“We are not anti-regulation,” said Mr. Christodoulou.
“We are pro-truth, pro-transparency, and pro-choice and right now, natural companies are not offered a genuine way to register their products. In turn, the public is unaware of safe and healthy alternatives to the APVMA approved chemical products that come with POISON and KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN warnings. Australians deserve regulators who act with integrity — not bullies hiding behind red tape and legislation that favours big business.”
Augustine Approved continues to call for reform of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code (Agvet Code) to create a complementary-medicines pathway similar to the TGA model for human natural health products. This reform would allow Australian pet parents the freedom to choose natural, food-based solutions without fear of regulatory suppression.
Augustine Approved will now focus on Canine Masters which is just around the corner. If you'd like to learn about natural canine health, this is the event of 2025. Tickets are limited.
More:
Augustine Approved declares unlawful harassment by the APVMA
It’s Time to Reform the Agvet Code – A Proposal
Back to Business – Our Commitment to the Community
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