Australia Bars Paraquat and Diquat Herbicides From Vineyard Use

Australia’s pesticide regulator has issued its final decision on paraquat and diquat herbicides, removing vineyards from the supported uses for products containing either chemical alone or in combination, a change that will affect weed control practices across the country’s wine sector.

The decision was outlined by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, or APVMA, in a Special Gazette published on June 23. In an update released on July 2, the Australian Wine Research Institute said the ruling means products containing paraquat are “not supported” in vineyards, products containing paraquat and diquat together are also “not supported” in vineyards, and products containing diquat alone are likewise “not supported” for vineyard use.

For grape growers and wineries, the change sets a clear timetable for phasing out those herbicides in winegrape production. Existing stocks with labels approved before June 23 can still be purchased and used in vineyards until June 22, 2028, under a two-year phase-out period. After that date, those products must no longer be used in vineyards.

The AWRI said manufacture of chemical products bearing labels approved before June 23 is no longer authorized. New labels will no longer list vineyards as an approved use, which means those products are not registered for use on winegrape vineyards. The revised labels can be identified by the addition of “RV2026” next to the APVMA approval number.

The decision matters beyond farm compliance because vineyard weed management is a basic part of grape production costs and operations. Any shift away from paraquat and diquat could require growers to adjust spray programs, labor planning or alternative weed control methods, with possible effects on vineyard budgets and day-to-day work in a sector that supplies wine and other grape-based beverages.

The AWRI advised growers to review their chemical inventories for products containing paraquat or diquat, whether sold separately or together, and to make sure any stocks carrying older labels are used up or disposed of before June 22, 2028. The institute said the final regulatory outcomes apply specifically to vineyard use and pointed readers to the APVMA’s technical review tables for product detail.

The AWRI update was issued as part of its agrochemical bulletin service. The institute said its work is funded by Wine Australia through levies paid by grapegrowers and winemakers, with matching funds from the Australian government.