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Formulation types

1. What is this Guideline about?

  1. This Guideline is made pursuant to section 6A of the Agvet Code.
  2. The purpose of this Guideline is to set out, for agricultural chemical products, formulation types recognised by the APVMA pursuant to regulation 3 of the Agvet Regulations.
  3. Formulation type for an agricultural chemical product comprises a formulation code and description. Formulation type is a prescribed particular for a chemical product (reg 16(da) of the Agvet Regulations).
  4. The formulation types for agricultural chemical products recognised by the APVMA are:
    1. those specified in the Schedule to this guideline (grouped in tables according to general descriptions set out as the heading to each table); or
    2. if not specified in the Schedule to this guideline, the formulation types specified in the Manual on development and use of FAO and WHO specifications for pesticides (the FAO/WHO Manual), prepared by the ‘FAO/WHO Joint Meeting on Pesticide Specifications’.
  5. Consequently, if the formulation type for your proposed agricultural chemical product does not match a formulation type set out in the Schedule to this guideline, you may be able to rely on a formulation type specified in the FAO/WHO Manual.

2. Schedule

Table 1: Technical materials and technical concentrates
Code Name Description
TC Technical Materials The material must consist of technical material together with related manufacturing impurities free from visible extraneous matter and added modifying agents, except stabilizers if required. This technical material must comply with the APVMA standard.
TK Technical Concentrates The material must consist of technical together with related manufacturing impurities, plus a diluent and a stabilizer (if required). It must be free from visible extraneous matter and added modifying agents (except for the diluent and stabilizer). This technical material must comply with the APVMA standard on a dry weight basis (i.e. excluding the diluent and the stabilizer).
Table 2: Solid formulations for direct use
Code Name Description
DP Dustable powders A free-flowing powder suitable for dusting.
DS Powders for dry seed treatment A powder for application in the dry state, directly to the seed.
DT Tablets for direct application A formulation in the form of tablets to be applied individually and directly in the field and/or bodies of water, without preparation of a spraying solution or dispersion.
EG Emulsifiable granules A granular formulation, which may contain water-insoluble formulants, to be applied as an oil-in-water emulsion of the active constituent(s) after disintegration in water.
EP Emulsifiable powders A powder formulation, which may contain water-insoluble formulants, to be applied as an oil-in-water emulsion of the active constituent(s) after dispersion in water.
GR Granules A free-flowing solid formulation of a defined granule size range ready to use.
GW Water-soluble gel (see note) A gelatinized formulation to be applied as an aqueous solution.
SG Water-soluble granules A formulation consisting of granules to be applied as a true solution of the active ingredient after dissolution in water, but which may contain insoluble inert ingredients.
SP Water-soluble powders A powder formulation to be applied as a true solution of the active constituent after dissolution in water, but which may contain insoluble inert ingredients.
SS Water-soluble powder for seed treatment see note A powder to be dissolved in water before application to the seed.
ST Water-soluble tablets A formulation in the form of tablets to be used individually, to form a solution of the active ingredient after disintegration in water. The formulation may contain water-insoluble formulants.
WG Water-dispersible granules A formulation consisting of granules to be applied after disintegration and dispersion in water.
WP Wettable powders A powder formulation to be applied as a suspension after dispersion in water.
WS Water-dispersible powders for slurry seed treatment A powder to be dispersed at high concentration in water before application as slurry to the seed.
WT Water-dispersible tablets Formulation in the form of tablets to be used individually, to form a dispersion of the active constituent after disintegration in water.
Table 3: Liquid formulations – simple solutions
Code Name Description
LS Solutions for seed treatment A clear to opalescent liquid to be applied to the seed either directly or as a solution of the active constituent after dilution in water. The liquid may contain water-insoluble formulants.
OL Oil-miscible liquids A liquid, homogeneous formulation to be applied as a homogeneous liquid after dilution in an organic liquid.
SL Soluble concentrates A clear to opalescent liquid to be applied as a solution of the active constituent after dilution in water. The liquid may contain water-insoluble formulants.
UL Ultra-low-volume (ULV) liquids A homogeneous liquid ready for use through ultra-low-volume (ULV) equipment.
Table 4: Liquid formulations – solutions for dispersion
Code Name Description
DC Dispersible concentrates A liquid homogeneous formulation to be applied as a solid dispersion after dilution in water. (Note: There are some formulations that have characteristics intermediate between DC and EC.)
EC Emulsifiable concentrates A liquid, homogeneous formulation to be applied as an emulsion after dilution in water.
Table 5: Liquid formulations – emulsions
Code Name Description
ES Emulsions for seed treatment A stable emulsion for application to the seed, either directly or after dilution.
EW Emulsions, oil-in-water A fluid, heterogeneous formulation consisting of a solution of pesticide in an organic liquid dispersed as fine globules in a continuous water phase.
ME Micro-emulsions A clear to opalescent, oil- and water-containing liquid, to be applied directly or after dilution in water, when it may form a diluted miro-emulsion or a conventional emulsion.
Table 6: Liquid formulations – suspensions
Code Name Description
CS Aqueous capsule suspensions A stable suspension of capsules in a fluid, normally intended for dilution with water before use.
FS Suspension concentrates for seed treatment A stable suspension for application to the seed, either directly or after dilution.
OD Oil-based suspension concentrates A stable suspension of active constituent(s) in water-immiscible fluid, which may contain other, dissolved active constituent(s), intended for dilution with water before use.
SC Aqueous suspension concentrates A stable suspension of active constituent(s) with water as the fluid, intended for dilution with water before use.
Table 7: Liquid formulations – dual character formulations
Code Name Description
SE Aqueous suspo-emulsions A fluid, heterogeneous formulation consisting of a stable dispersion of active constituent(s) in the form of solid particles and fine globules in a continuous water phase.
Table 8: Formulations prepared as devices
Code Name Description
MC Mosquito coils A coil that burns (smoulders) without producing a flame and releases the active constituent into the local atmosphere as a vapour or smoke.
MV Vaporising mats A mat made from pulp, or other suitable inert materials, and impregnated with an active constituent. The mat is intended for use in a heating unit designed to produce slow volatilisation of the active constituent.
LV Liquid vaporisers A liquid formulation in a cartridge or bottle, designed to fit a suitable heating unit, from which the formulation passes up a heated wick and evaporates into the local atmosphere.
Table 9: Systems for spraying solutions and other liquids
Code Name Description
AE Aerosol dispensers The product must consist of a liquid formulation in a pressurised, non-refillable aerosol dispenser, containing propellant(s), synergist(s) and other formulants, as required, intended for release of the active ingredient into the air in the form of an aerosol.
LN Long-Lasting insecticidal nets or netting The product must be formed from (or in the form of) netting, consisting of [denier, mono-/multi-filament, polymer type] fibres, treated with/incorporating, technical/formulated components together with any necessary other formulants, and synergist, if required. The product must appear clean and must be free from visible extraneous matter, visible damage (such as splitting or tearing) and visible manufacturing defects (such as poorly made seams or a weave that is either not uniform or too loose to remain uniform in use), and must be suitable for use as/in an insecticidal net with long-lasting activity.
Table 10: Multi-character liquid formulations
Code Name Description
ZC Mixed formulations of CS and SC The material must consist of a suspension of fine particles of technical material, combined with a suspension of microcapsules of technical material in an aqueous phase together with suitable formulants. After gentle agitation the material must appear homogeneous and be suitable for dilution in water.
ZW Mixed formulations of CS and EW The material must consist of an emulsion of fine droplets of technical material in the form of the combination of a suspension of microcapsules in an aqueous phase together with suitable formulants. After gentle agitation the material must appear homogeneous and be suitable for dilution in water.
ZE Mixed formulations of CS and SE The material must consist of an emulsion of fine droplets of technical material and a suspension of fine particles of technical material in an aqueous phase, together with suitable formulants. After gentle agitation the material must appear homogeneous and be suitable for dilution in water.
Table 11: Microbial pesticides and bacterial pesticides
Code Name Description
BTK Bacterial larvicide technical concentrates The material must consist of [Genus, species, subspecies and strain of bacterium] together with related by-products of the route of manufacture and must be in the form of technical concentrate, free from visible extraneous matter and added modifying agents, except for stabilizers (preservatives) and free-flow agents, if required.
BWP Bacterial larvicide wettable powders The material must consist of an homogenous mixture of [Genus, species, subspecies and strain of bacterium], together with fillers and any other necessary formulants. It must be in the form of a fine powder (see WP) for dispersion in water. The formulation must be dry, free flowing, and free from visible extraneous matter and hard lumps.
BWG Bacterial larvicide water-dispersible granules The material must consist of an homogenous mixture of [Genus, species, subspecies and strain of bacterium], together with fillers and any other necessary formulants. It must be in the form of granules (see WG) for application after disintegration and dispersion in water. The formulation must be dry, free flowing, and free from visible extraneous matter and hard lumps.
BWT Bacterial larvicide water-dispersible tablets The material must consist of an homogenous mixture of [Genus, species, subspecies and strain of bacterium], together with fillers and any other necessary formulants. It must be in the form of tablets for application after disintegration and dispersion in water. The formulation must be dry, unbroken, free-flowing tablets and must be free from visible extraneous matter.
BSC Bacterial larvicide suspension concentrates The material must consist of a suspension of fine particles of [Genus, species, subspecies and strain of bacterium], in an aqueous phase together with suitable formulants. After agitation the material must be homogeneous and suitable for further dilution with water.
Content last updated: 
3 October 2018
Content last reviewed: 
7 April 2020
URL: 
https://apvma.gov.au/node/10901

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