18 June 2025
The 2025/26 Agrochemicals registered for use in Australian viticulture, commonly known as the ‘Dog book’, is now available online via the AWRI website, with hard copies being mailed this month.
Read on for a summary of the key changes to this year’s ‘Dog book’ and additional information:
- New active constituent
- Changes to export harvest intervals
- Active constituent reviews and cancelled products
- Notification of change to poison schedule rating
- Managing fungicide resistance
- Managing herbicide resistance
- Off-label grapevine permits
- About the ‘Dog book’
New active constituent
The following active constituent is registered for use in winegrape production by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and is listed in the ‘Dog book’ for the first time:
AFIDOPYROPEN
APVMA product number 82738: Versys Insecticide is a BASF Australia Ltd product registered for suppression of Long tailed mealybug in vineyards. It is an activity group 9D insecticide, most active against 2nd and 3rd instar stages.
Recommended export harvest interval (withholding period): Use no later than E-L 31, berries pea-sized (not greater than 7mm diameter).
Changes to export harvest intervals
Export harvest intervals have been extended for two active ingredients as follows:
PYDIFLUMETOFEN
APVMA product number 82484: Miravis Adepidyn technology fungicide is a Syngenta Australia Pty Ltd product registered for control of Powdery mildew in vineyards. It is an activity group 7 fungicide.
Recommended export harvest interval (withholding period): Changed from E-L 19, beginning of flowering when caps start loosening, to Use no later than E-L 25 (80% capfall).
MEFENTRIFLUCONAZOLE
APVMA product number 84344: Belanty fungicide is a BASF Australia Ltd product registered for control of Powdery mildew on grapes. It is an activity group 3 fungicide.
Recommended export harvest interval (withholding period): Changed from Use no later than E-L 31, berries pea-sized (not greater than 7mm diameter), to Use no later than 35 days before harvest.
Active constituent reviews and cancelled products
The APVMA continues to complete regulatory reviews on a range of active constituents. Three actives outlined below have been cancelled for use in vineyards.
DIAZINON
Insecticide products containing diazinon are no longer permitted for use on winegrapes from 10 September 2025. This active has been removed from the 2025/26 ‘Dog book’.
CHLORPYRIFOS
Insecticide products containing chlorpyrifos are no longer permitted for use on winegrapes from 30 September 2025. This active has been removed from the 2025/26 ‘Dog book’.
MALATHION
Insecticide products containing malathion are no longer permitted for use on winegrapes from 1 May 2026. One product with this active has been retained in the 2025/26 ‘Dog book’ for potential use until this cancellation date.
Any products containing these three actives not applied by the ‘last use date’ must be responsibly disposed. The ChemClear program managed by AgSafe facilitates safe disposal of unused and obsolete agricultural chemicals. Register your chemicals for disposal or call 02 6206 6888.
For a comprehensive product list relevant to winegrapes as at May 2025, including products voluntarily cancelled, stopped, or for which effectively have been discontinued by the manufacturer, refer here.
As a result of the above reviews, the AWRI has updated the chemical treatment listings contained in the following two fact sheets:
Notification of change to poison schedule rating
BROMOXYNIL PRODUCTS CONTAINING MORE THAN 1.5% w/v
All products containing more than 1.5% w/v of bromoxynil have been reclassified from a Schedule 6 ‘Poison’ to a Schedule 7 ‘Dangerous Poison’. From 1 February 2025, the APVMA has been taking regulatory action to ensure relevant product label signal headings and storage requirements comply with this change. This change is relevant to all herbicide products listed in the 2025/26 ‘Dog book’ for which bromoxynil is the active ingredient with diflufenican (Colt, Kelpie DFF + Brom MX, Jagged, Lobak, Meerkat, Ruger).
Requirements for storage and handling of Schedule 7 chemicals vary by state. In South Australia, they may only be sold or supplied to a person who holds a current Chemical Accreditation, like ChemCert. Similarly in Victoria, a Standard Agricultural Chemical Users Permit is required.
Managing fungicide resistance
To ensure continued effectiveness of fungicides from a range of fungicide activity groups against a target disease, it is essential that fungicide resistance management strategies are followed. These have been updated for botrytis, powdery mildew and downy mildew in the 2025/26 ‘Dog book’.
In vineyards where disease control issues have been noted, some fungicide resistance has been detected against these three diseases. If you are concerned about the lack of control you are achieving from your fungicide spray program, a free fungicide resistance testing service is available to winegrape producers until June 2027. Further details are provided in the 2025/26 ‘Dog book’.
Managing herbicide resistance
New to the 2025/26 ‘Dog book’ is general guidance information on herbicide resistance, including key factors that contribute to its development.
Off-label grapevine permits
Situations can arise whereby chemicals are needed to target a particular pest that is not specified on the label. In such instances an ‘off-label’ permit may be obtained through the APVMA. Examples include for use against wasps or fruit fly.
For a list of current off-label permits issued for use on winegrapes in various situations, refer here. Note that these use cases are not listed in the ‘Dog book’. Prior to use, it is essential to read all the conditions attached to a permit and to contact your winery or grape purchaser.
About the ‘Dog book’
The ‘Dog book’ is an annually published reference guide for Australian grape and wine industry and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any product. It helps facilitate export market access, responsible application of chemical treatments and environmental stewardship.
- Look out for the 2025/26 ‘Dog book’ as an insert in the July issue of the Australia & New Zealand Grapegrower and Winemaker magazine.
- Refer here for a digital copy of the ‘Dog book’ which will be updated through the year as new active ingredients become registered and available for use.
- To order a hard copy from the AWRI, complete the ‘Dog book’ sign up form here.
- For more resources relevant to agrochemical treatments, visit the dedicated Agrochemicals page on the AWRI website.
- For more information, please contact Suzanne McLoughlin on 08 8313 6600 or email helpdesk@awri.com.au.
Acknowledgements
This eBulletin is supported by Wine Australia with levies from Australia’s grapegrowers and winemakers and matching funds from the Australian Government. AWRI is a member of the Wine Innovation Cluster in Adelaide, SA.
