Following the decision by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to withdraw support for the use of paraquat in sugarcane, SRA and Canegrowers, on behalf of the sugarcane industry, have sought a one-year emergency permit. If granted, this will enable growers to purchase and use paraquat drums bearing new labels in sugarcane under previous label conditions (i.e. the labels that are on old stock in circulation prior to the 23 June 2026 decision), for one year.

In the meantime, SRA is exploring weed management options for this season, that will be communicated to the industry as soon as possible.

In addition, SRA is actively working with chemical companies to help identify new herbicidal knockdown strategies in sugarcane, as part of SRA project 2025002 Paraquat alternatives – Re-develop Integrated Weed Management in Australian Sugarcane without Paraquat, Some new options are on track for registration as early as mid 2027.

To recap, the regulator on 23 June 2026, ruled some uses of paraquat were unacceptable due to environmental safety considerations. The maximum supported rate varies from crop to crop.

The APVMA’s official media release featured rates for the grains industry and this was widely reported by media sources, creating confusion amongst farmers.

However, for sugarcane, the regulator concluded that paraquat rates above 103 g a.i. /ha  (directed interrow spray) and 137 g a.i. /ha (boomspray) pose an unacceptable environmental safety risk.

The minimum label rate of paraquat for use in sugarcane is 300 g a.i. per hectare (equivalent to 1.2 L/ha of paraquat at 250 g/L). Consequently, the use of paraquat in sugarcane is now NOT supported by the regulator at any rates. This decision also includes combination products containing diquat and paraquat.

As of 22 June 2026, newly manufactured paraquat drums will bear revised labels that no longer mention the use of paraquat in sugarcane. These products cannot be used in sugarcane fields at any rates.

Please read the new label of this paraquat product and note that sugarcane is no longer mentioned on this label and cannot be used in the crop.

The supply and use of registered paraquat products bearing labels approved prior to the final decision on 23 June 2026 are authorised for a period of two years. These products (and only these products) can still be used according to their respective labels until 22 June 2028.