The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) continues to progress its wide-reaching program of chemical reviews — perhaps at a rate of knots that makes many in the industry more than just a little uncomfortable.

Several important reviews have recently been finalised, and many more are currently underway or scheduled to commence in the coming years. While it’s difficult to forecast the outcome of any given review, especially those still several years from completion, one thing is clear — a large portion of the older, widely used chemistry in horticulture is now under serious scrutiny. It’s important to recognise that no review has ever resulted in expanded access to crop protectants.

This regulatory uncertainty presents a timely opportunity for growers, agronomists, and crop protection providers to start thinking more strategically about the future of pest and disease management. Whether it’s through exploring alternative chemistries, reassessing IPM programs, or trialling new technologies, planning ahead will be key to maintaining productivity and resilience.

We have examined the agrichemical toolbox across the crops we represent and cross-checked this against the list of reviews published by the APVMA. Below, we identify the chemical reviews that are most relevant to the vegetable, onion and potato sectors — covering recent decisions, active reviews, and actives scheduled for future reconsideration.

Recently completed reviews (past 12 months)

• CHLORPYRIFOS – All approved uses on vegetables were cancelled on 30 September 2024 with a 12 month phase out period.
• DIAZINON – All approved uses on vegetables will cease by 10 September 2025
• CHLORTHAL DIMETHYL (Dacthal) – All approved uses on vegetables were cancelled on 10 October 2024, with no phase-out period.

Actives currently under review

The APVMA is currently reviewing 21 active constituents. Of these, the following are particularly relevant to the vegetable, onion and potato sectors:

• Neonicotinoids
  CLOTHIANIDIN, IMIDACLOPRID, THIAMETHOXAM, ACETAMIPRID
  Decisions on each of these chemistries will be published separately, with proposed regulatory decisions now expected to be released progressively between December 2025 and October 2026.

• Bipyridyl herbicides
  DIQUAT, PARAQUAT

The proposed decisions for paraquat and diquat were published on 30 July 2024. Responses from the public were received up until 29 October 2024. APVMA subsequently extended the date for the final regulatory decisions for until Quarter 4 2025.

• Phenylpyrazole insecticide:
  FIPRONIL

The proposed decision on fipronil agricultural chemical products has been delayed until April 2026.

Actives on the list for reconsideration

These actives are either scheduled for future review or flagged due to concerns around human or environmental safety, including spray drift. The list includes numerous insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides widely used in vegetable cropping.

• Insecticides

ACEPHATE, ABAMECTIN, ALPHA-CYPERMETHRIN, BIFENTHRIN, DIMETHOATE, EMAMECTIN, FENITROTHION, METHOMYL, METHIOCARB, PERMETHRIN, PHORATE, PROPARGITE, PYMETROZINE, PYRIPROXYFEN, THIODICARB, TRICHLORFON

• Fungicides

AZOXYSTROBIN, CYPROCONAZOLE, CHLOROTHALONIL, DIFENOCONAZOLE, MANCOZEB, METIRAM, THIRAM, ZINEB, ZIRAM, PROPINEB, PROPICONAZOLE, TRIADIMENOL, TRIADIMEFON

• Herbicides

AMITROLE, ATRAZINE, CYANAZINE, DICAMBA, FLUAZIFOP-P, FLUROXYPYR, GLUFOSINATE-AMMONIUM, GLYPHOSATE, PICLORAM, SIMAZINE