A committee has recommended the Australian government pass a bill to improve the efficiency of rules around farming and veterinary chemicals.

The bill was introduced into the House of Representatives in November and was designed to tighten up regulations and provide greater public certainty about the safety of chemicals approved for use in Australia.

But the bill was referred to a Senate committee after industry raised concerns about whether it would have any real effect.

After reviewing the bill and hearing from witnesses at a public hearing, the Senate committee on Wednesday recommended the federal government pass the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Legislation Amendment Bill 2012.