(1) The APVMA, for the purpose of considering any matter, or obtaining information or advice, relating to the performance of its functions, may consult with persons or bodies, including:
(a) persons or bodies involved in the industry; and
(b) the Commonwealth Government or State Governments or Commonwealth or State authorities having functions relating to agricultural or veterinary chemicals; and
(ba) a national regulatory authority of a foreign country that has national responsibility relating to the evaluation, registration or control of agricultural or veterinary chemical products; and
(c) persons (including members of the scientific community) having a particular interest in matters associated with the industry; and
(d) persons or bodies having a particular interest in the protection of the interests of consumers or in the protection of the environment.
(1A) If the matter that is being considered by the APVMA, or in respect of which the APVMA is seeking information or advice, relates to an active constituent for a proposed or existing chemical product, a chemical product, or a label for containers for a chemical product, the APVMA may make available to the person or body concerned:
(a) information obtained by it with respect to the constituent, product or label; and
(b) samples of the constituent, of any of the active constituents of the product, or of the product, or samples or copies of the label, as the case may be.
(2) The APVMA may:
(a) pay travel expenses reasonably incurred by a person in connection with consultations by the APVMA; and
(b) subject to written guidelines given to the APVMA by the Minister, pay expenses (other than travel expenses) reasonably incurred by a body or person in connection with consultations by the APVMA.