QUEENSLAND COUNTRY LIFE | Farmer fears for summer paraquat use immediately post APVMA review addressed

With a final decision due on the review of paraquat and diquat use in Australia, growers have been assured a two-year grace period will apply with any usage changes.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Authority (APVMA) confirmed the review of the two chemicals would be concluded in December following extensions to the process.

Queensland Country Life reported on the update and spoke to Grain Producers Australia research and development spokesperson Andrew Weidemann, who reassured growers any changes would not be instant.

"As part of the review, there will be a two-year grace period, whatever the finding, so for people concerned about how they are going to go about spraying their summer weeds this year because of a potential change in the regulations surrounding paraquat use, you won't have to make any last-minute change," he said.

"If there are to be changes, they will be orderly and phased in over a period of time to give growers time to plan."

The APVMA's public consultation on the initial recommendations for the chemicals, which recommended phasing out some uses and reduction in legal application dates, attracted 168 submissions.

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