Agrochemical Updates


Use of Mimic (tebufenozide) for control of lightbrown apple moth

Mimic 700 WP is a product registered by Bayer for the control of lightbrown apple moth. The active constituent in Mimic is tebufenozide.

This fact sheet addresses the use of Mimic after 80% capfall.

Q. Why does The Australian Wine Research Institute recommend that applications of Mimic be restricted to before 80% capfall?

A. The recommendations have been developed to satisfy the lowest maximum residue limit (MRL) for any of Australia’s major wine markets after considering available data on the persistence of tebufenozide, both on grapes and through winemaking.

It is known that if Mimic is sprayed onto grapes late in the season (after 80% capfall), residues of tebufenozide may be detectable in the resultant wine.

Some of the markets to which Australia exports wine have a very low MRL for tebufenozide, or alternatively, have not announced their position on the course of action they would take if tebufenozide was detected in wine.

To ensure that Australian wine meets MRLs set by all of these markets, the 80% capfall restriction was recommended to grapegrowers.

Q. Are there exceptions to this restriction?

A. Yes. Mimic can be used after 80% capfall in consultation with the winery/grape purchaser.

A winery may choose to ignore the restriction if the wine made from the grapes will only be sold in Australia, or to an export market that has an MRL greater than the expected residue, or if the market otherwise permits residues of tebufenozide. You can check the MRLs for various markets by clicking here. Wine, grapes and juice can be tested by The Institute to determine the concentration of tebufenozide.

The label withholding period is the minimum delay that should be observed between spraying the grapes and their harvest.


This information is provided to inform the wine industry of agrochemical product information, and should not be interpreted as an endorsement.