Australia to approve BASF’s Efficon Insecticide (dimpropyridaz 120 g/L SL)

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is considering an application for registration of BASF Australia Ltd.’s new product Efficon Insecticide, containing 120 g/L, as a soluble liquid (SL) formulation, of the new active constituent dimpropyridaz.

Dimpropyridaz is a pyrazole carboxamide insecticide which acts on chordotonal organs, which are important mechanosensors in insects. Chordotonal organs transduce joint position and motion due to muscle contractions or external influences such as wind, gravity, or sound, and are therefore essential for hearing, balance, spatial orientation, and kinaesthesia senses. Dimpropyridaz inhibits firing of chordotonal organ neurons by blocking signalling upstream of the TRPV channel. As a result, signal transduction by the Chordotonal organ is disrupted, the insects are uncoordinated, unable to feed and eventually die.

Efficon Insecticide, a new insecticide containing the new active ingredient dimpropyridaz, is intended for the control of aphids, Silverleaf Whitefly and Greenhouse Whitefly in cucurbits, brassica vegetables, fruiting vegetables, leafy vegetables, brassica leafy vegetables, and cotton. Proposed target rates are 1 L/ha (120 g a.c./ha) for whitefly and 0.5 L/ha (60 g a.c./ha) for aphids.

Efficon Insecticide will be for professional use only. Up to 4 applications of 120 g a.c./ha are proposed using ground boom sprayer equipment with a medium droplet size and minimum retreatment interval of 7 days between applications.

The APVMA Chemistry section has evaluated the chemistry of the active constituent dimpropyridaz and associated product Efficon Insecticide – including the spectroscopy, physicochemical properties, manufacturing process, quality control procedures, stability, packaging, batch analysis results and analytical methods – and found them to be acceptable.

Based on a review of the chemistry and manufacturing details, the registration of Efficon Insecticide, and approval of the active constituent dimpropyridaz, are supported from a chemistry perspective.