DECLARATION UNDER SUBSECTION 196B(9)
OF THE VETERANS’ ENTITLEMENTS ACT 1986
The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority), under subsection 196B(9) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the Act), makes the following declaration in respect of the review of the contents of the Statements of Principles in force under the Act concerning malignant neoplasm of the pancreas, Instrument Nos. 73 and 74 of 2013.
The investigation related to "exposure to DDT". The Notice of Investigation was published in the Government Notices Gazette of 9 January 2018.
Following the investigation, the Authority declares that it does not propose to amend Statement of Principles, Instrument No. 74 of 2013, by inclusion of a factor relating to exposure to DDT. The reason is that the new sound medical-scientific evidence available is insufficient to justify an amendment to that Statement of Principles already determined in respect of malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The Authority proposes to amend Statement of Principles, Instrument No. 73 of 2013, concerning malignant neoplasm of the pancreas, by rewording factor 6(e) concerning exposure to DDT.
The Authority is of the view that the new sound medical-scientific evidence available raises a reasonable hypothesis that malignant neoplasm of the pancreas can be related to service involving exposure to DDT and the factor concerning exposure to DDT will be amended to clarify the meaning of the factor. However, the new sound medical-scientific evidence does not establish that such a relationship is more probable than not and does not enable the Authority to determine a factor concerning exposure to DDT for inclusion in the Statement of Principles, Instrument No. 74 of 2013, already determined pursuant to subsection 196B(3) of the Act.
The Common Seal of the ) Repatriation Medical Authority ) was affixed at the direction of: ) | |
| PROFESSOR NICHOLAS SAUNDERS AO CHAIRPERSON 27 / 4 / 2018 |