AUSVEG is pleased to announce the appointment of David Daniels as National Agrichemical Manager to lead its agrichemical program.

In this new AUSVEG role, David will work closely with growers, plant science companies, industry partners, innovators and regulators to identify and fill the gaps in pest and disease management in the vegetable industry.

David brings significant horticulture industry experience having spent 13 years at Citrus Australia as the General Manager – Market Development, leading Citrus Australia’s Market Development and Market Access program. David also had responsibility for agrichemical MRL management, prioritising grower needs in engagements with regulators, agrichemical companies and industry stakeholders, while advocating on market access, and representing grower interests in domestic and international forums.

This appointment has been driven by vegetable grower-identified needs, and the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority’s (APVMA’s) increasing scrutiny of the agrichemical toolbox within food and fibre industries. It is evident that the approval of new chemistry is not keeping pace with the rate at which existing products are being removed for use or restricted in Australia and internationally.

As a starting point, the National Agrichemical Manager will focus on establishing an effective advisory network across Australia’s diverse vegetable crops and growing regions. This network aims to facilitate a two-way flow of information, enabling the identification and communication of emerging pest and disease challenges within the sector.

Given the varied climatic conditions and production systems across regions, crop specific and localised expertise will be essential for effective advice. By fostering strong connections between growers, the VegNET program, agronomists, and regional industry bodies, the advisory network will support timely responses to threats and promote the adoption of best practices.

Key focus areas will be to:

• prioritise the major crop protection gaps through the Strategic Agrichemical Review Processes (SARP) for each individual industry within the vegetable sector
• coordinate industry priority setting with a clear outlook of gaps and risks in existing pest control options
• refine industry priority needs and share with stakeholders
• facilitate engagement with AgVet product registrants to provide a comprehensive understanding of the industry’s pest and disease pressures
• assist product registrants in identifying the commercial potential for crop protection products in Australia with the goal of encouraging investment in new product development for the sector
• maintain a watching brief on importing country Maximum Residue Limits and provide regular updates to participants in the export value-chain
• provide technical and commercial advice to regulatory authorities to support science-based decision-making and ongoing access to crop protection products.

We are currently navigating a number of regulatory challenges. This update marks the first in what is anticipated to be a series of agrichemical updates relevant to the vegetable sector.

Agrichemical Update

Chlorpyrifos

In October 2024, Australia became the latest country to effectively ban chlorpyrifos, citing risks to human health (particularly from an operator’s perspective) and environmental concerns. Chlorpyrifos has been under regulatory review on a global scale for decades, with a multitude of countries either banning its use or establishing near-zero MRLs.

Australia’s recent decision aligns with actions taken by the United States, Canada, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the European Union, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and others.

With the final regulatory decision published in October 2024, most agricultural uses of chlorpyrifos have been cancelled, with only a few minor exceptions. The APVMA is allowing a 12-month grace period to clear existing product from the supply chain. However, manufacturing and importing of chlorpyrifos are no longer permitted.

While AUSVEG expresses disappointment over the loss of this valuable pest management tool, the organisation acknowledges the regulator’s decision, which appears to be in step with the findings of other regulators and global expectations.

Paraquat and diquat

The APVMA initiated a review of diquat and paraquat as far back as 1995, prompted by concerns over human health, environmental safety, and trade implications. After extensive technical assessments, the APVMA released a proposed regulatory decision in July 2024. The findings indicated that many current practices of these herbicides in orchards, vineyards, and broadacre farming are not environmentally acceptable. Fortunately, some use patterns in vegetable production remain supported, though certain practices in row crops and market gardens are also under scrutiny.

In response to a significant volume of public submissions, the APVMA has extended the timeline for the final decision to the final quarter of 2025. While at this stage it is only a proposed regulatory decision, AUSVEG remains optimistic that paraquat and diquat will continue to be viable options in the vegetable industry’s agrichemical toolkit, when the final regulatory decision is published.

Neonicotinoids (acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam)

The neonicotinoid group of active constituents was nominated for review by the APVMA in 2019 due to emerging environmental concerns, particularly regarding the impact on pollinators such as honeybees.

The APVMA’s formal technical review commenced in late 2024 and is focused on assessing the risks these chemicals pose to the environment and human health, with a particular emphasis on pollinator safety.

Proposed regulatory decisions for individual neonicotinoid actives are anticipated between December 2025 and October 2026. Following this, a three-month consultation period will allow stakeholders to provide feedback. The APVMA will consider submissions before making final regulatory decisions, which may include varying, suspending, or cancelling the registration of certain neonicotinoid products.

Given the number of active constituents under review and the broad range of affected crops, it is expected that the APVMA will take a cautious approach, leading to a relatively slow final decision. Considering international regulatory trends, significant changes to approvals and usage patterns may be anticipated around 2026–27. Typically, a 12-month transition period is expected to phase out existing products. The extensive use of neonicotinoids across the vegetable industry makes this  review a top priority for AUSVEG.

Dithiocarbamates (Mancozeb, Metiram, Propineb, Thiram, Zineb, Ziram)

While no review is currently active, the dithiocarbamate group of fungicides has been tabled for review by the APVMA, citing the environment, residues and trade as risk areas to be examined. The APVMA’s timeframe indicates that the formal review will commence in the first quarter of 2027. Our strong feeling is that the dithiocarbamate review will not commence until the neonicotinoids have been finalised, given the considerable workload required.  On that basis, we feel that regulatory changes will not take place until around 2030, but such changes could be significant for the vegetable sector. AUSVEG is proactively preparing to engage in the review process, aiming to provide robust technical support for the continued use of these essential fungicides when the review commences.

Diazinon

Diazinon, a broad-spectrum organophosphorus insecticide, has been under review by the APVMA since 1996 due to concerns related to chemistry, toxicology, worker health and safety, efficacy, residues, trade, and environmental impact.

The most recent technical review findings were released in March 2024. Prior to this, diazinon was registered for use on a wide range of horticultural crops. During the review process, the APVMA requested residue data from product registrants. However, the data provided were either insufficient or not made available. Consequently, the APVMA concluded that the ongoing use of diazinon on food-producing crops could not be supported. As a result, the APVMA proposed amendments to product labels to remove food crops from the approved uses.

The only remaining approved uses for diazinon are for nursery plant production and large-scale pest control operations, such as flea, cockroach, beetle, mosquito, and bed bug management.

Currently, there is a minor use permit held by Hort Innovation (Permit number 82551) that allows the use of diazinon for controlling various pests in spring onions, shallots, cauliflower, leeks, coriander, and parsley. This permit is set to expire on 30 November 2025. Given that the APVMA does not support the ongoing use of diazinon in food crops, this permit will not be renewed. Therefore, the use of diazinon on these crops will not be allowed after the permit expires.

APVMA review of guidelines for determining minor use

The Australian vegetable sector has long benefited from the ability to obtain minor use permits, which are essential for accessing chemical products for crops grown in limited areas or under specific conditions. In 2023, the APVMA initiated a review of its guidelines for determining minor use, aiming to update criteria that had remained largely unchanged since their inception in the early 2000s.

AUSVEG submitted a detailed response to the review in October 2024, expressing concern over the APVMA’s proposal to reclassify celery, cucumber, and zucchini from ‘minor’ to ‘major’ crop status. AUSVEG argued that this change was inappropriate given the economic realities of vegetable production. However, the APVMA upheld its decision, and these crops will soon be listed as ‘major’ under the revised guidelines.

While this reclassification does not automatically preclude the issuance of minor use permits for these crops, it does introduce additional complexities. The process for obtaining such permits is likely to become more challenging, as the APVMA may apply stricter criteria to ‘major’ crops. Currently, numerous minor use permits are active for these vegetables. AUSVEG is committed to collaborating with the permit holder (Hort Innovation) and the APVMA to navigate the new regulatory landscape, to ensure that vegetable producers are not disadvantaged in any way.

For further information contact:

David Daniels

National Agrichemical Manager

M 0402 270 554

E david.daniels@ausveg.com.au

W ausveg.com.au