21 October 2024
In a Special Gazette dated 10 September 2024, The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) handed down its final regulatory decision on the broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide diazinon. This AWRI eBulletin summarises implications of this decision for the wine industry.
Decision and implications for use
The APVMA has determined that as of 10 September 2024, the continued use of diazinon for food-producing situations, including use on grapevines, is NOT SUPPORTED.
A 12-month phase-out period has now begun, where products bearing the previously approved labels may continue to be sold and used. After 10 September 2025, it will be an offence to have possession or custody of, supply, or to use the cancelled active constituents, chemical products and products bearing the previously approved labels.
Use on nursery plants as a drench against pests including aphids, thrips, mealybugs and scale has been retained.
Aligned with current recommendations in the Agrochemicals registered for use in Australian viticulture 24/25 (‘Dog book’) and as a result of this final decision, any vineyard owners considering applications of diazinon stock on hand prior to 10 September 2025 must do so in consultation with their winery/grape purchaser.
Maximum residue limits (MRLs)
As a result of this decision, Australia’s current temporary MRL for diazinon of 2 mg/kg for grapes (applicable to both wine-grapes and table grapes) will be removed from Schedule 20 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code at some point after 10 September 2025, effectively leaving a ‘nil detect’ in place. Once this occurs, wines without a ‘nil detect’ may not be suitable for sale in the Australian market. AWRI encourages testing to determine actual residue levels in any wine products for which there may be a concern.
‘Dog book’
The current online version of Agrochemicals registered for use in Australian viticulture 24/25 (‘Dog book’) will remain unchanged as a result of the APVMA’s final decision on diazinon, given there is a one-year phase-out period applicable for use on grapevines. Changes will be included in the 2025/26 version.
Managing custody of de-registered agrochemicals awaiting disposal
The following steps should be followed to safely manage storage and disposal of de-registered agrochemicals and fulfil requirements of certified membership of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia:
- Segregate de-registered products awaiting disposal to avoid accidental use.
- Register these products for collection with ChemClear via phone 1800 008 182 or online. You will need to know the manufacturer’s name, product name, product registration number, size (volume) of the container, an estimation of the remaining quantity, and the condition of the container.
- Apply storage stickers to the containers awaiting disposal. These will be issued to you by ChemClear displaying your registration reference number.
- Retain a current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for each product awaiting collection.
- As part of your chemical inventory, retain records of the ChemClear disposal lodgement, including date, product name, active and volume awaiting disposal.
- Retain record of disposal once ChemClear collection has been completed.
Note: to determine the product registration number, enter ‘diazinon’ into the search box on the APVMA PubCRIS database. Under ‘search terms to include’, tick ‘active constituent’, then press the ‘search’ button. A product list will be displayed showing the registration number as ‘No.’ for each product name.
Background to the decision
For many years in the wine industry, diazinon use has been negligible, and many wine companies have prohibited its use. Notwithstanding, prior to this final regulatory decision, chemical products containing diazinon were registered for use on grapevines against mealybugs and Australian plague locust. Alternative chemical control options for these pests are available.
Diazinon active constituents, chemical products and labels were first nominated for review in 1994 due to possible risks associated with worker health and safety, residues in food and risks to the environment; with the formal review commencing in 1996. Interim and draft reports were subsequently released in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006 prior to the Final Review Technical Report in September 2024, from which the above summary is drawn.
For enquiries about the final decision on diazinon, please email enquiries@apvma.gov.au, and for all other technical viticulture or winemaking enquiries, including those relating to Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, please contact the AWRI helpdesk on 08 8313 6600 or helpdesk@awri.com.au.
Acknowledgements
This work 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, SA.
