Labor wants inquiry into pesticides agency

Federal Labor has seized on health concerns surrounding the world's most popular weedkiller to demand a Senate inquiry into the independence and decision-making of Australia's pesticides agency.

Opposition agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon said it was crucial customers had confidence in the agency to review chemicals such as Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, which has been linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"This issue is too important to the agricultural community, to Australia's farmers, and to consumers to be left unresolved," Mr Fitzgibbon said on Tuesday.

Labor also wants to investigate the impact of moving the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) from Canberra to Armidale in northern NSW.

"There is no doubt the government's decision to relocate the APVMA has impacted on its operations," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has thrown his full support behind the agency.

"I back the APVMA. I am confident the APVMA is competent and independent," Mr Littleproud said.

The minister said the weight of objective scientific evidence showed when used in accordance with label instructions, glyphosate could be used safely.

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