29 April 2025
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has advised of delays to pending regulatory decisions that affect the grape and wine industries.
The timeline for publication of the final regulatory decision on continued use of paraquat and diquat herbicide active ingredients in vineyard situations has been repeatedly extended, and is now expected in December 2025. The AWRI advised industry in September 2024 of the public consultation on these active ingredients, following release of the proposed regulatory decision in July 2024.
Despite the uncertain future of paraquat and diquat use in vineyards, both actives are scheduled to remain in the upcoming 2025/26 edition of Agrochemicals registered for use in Australian viticulture, commonly known as the ‘Dog book’.
The proposed regulatory decisions for individual neonicotinoid insecticide actives have also been delayed, now expected between December 2025 to October 2026. These include acetamiprid (currently registered on wine grapes in conjunction with pyriproxyfen to target longtailed mealybug, grapevine scale and lightbrown apple moth); clothianidin (currently registered on wine grapes to target longtailed mealybug and grapevine scale); and fipronil (currently registered on wine grapes to target fig longicorn).
The AWRI will continue to keep industry abreast of important changes to agrochemical availability.
Acknowledgements
The AWRI’s eBulletin is supported by Wine Australia, with levies from Australia’s grapegrowers and winemakers and matching funds from the Australian Government. The AWRI is a member of the Wine Innovation Cluster in Adelaide, South Australia.
