Permits

The Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (CaLP Act) is the main legislation covering noxious weed and pest animal management in Victoria.

It provides the power to declare species of animals as a 'pest animal' and species of plants as 'noxious weeds' because they have or may have the potential to become a serious threat to primary production, Crown land, the environment or community health in Victoria.

The CaLP Act regulates the control, the bringing into the state, keeping, movement, trade and release of noxious weeds and pest animals in Victoria.

For more information, see noxious weed and pest animal declarations.

Legal keeping, import and selling of declared pest animals

Keeping, selling, releasing or moving pest animals within Victoria without permission is illegal.

The bringing into Victoria, keeping, selling or releasing of declared pest animals, or the moving of pest animals within Victoria without permission is illegal and penalties apply.

Agriculture Victoria recognises that in some instances, activities involving pest animals can be conducted in a manner that minimises the threat they pose.

Under the CaLP Act, Agriculture Victoria may grant permits to bring into Victoria, keep, sell or release declared pest animals for specific purposes and under particular conditions.

There are five permit types:

It must be noted that:

• A pest animal permit will only be issued in exceptional circumstances and only where public benefit can be demonstrated. Permits will only be granted to applicants who provide evidence of competency and adequate resources to care for and contain the species.

• A person applying for a pest animal permit to bring into Victoria, keep or sell a pest animal must complete the relevant application form and pay the non-refundable fee.

• Upon receipt of a completed application, Agriculture Victoria will assess the proposed arrangements. Agriculture Victoria undertakes a comprehensive assessment of all applications including species, number and reproductive status of animals, location of where the animals are to be kept (authorised premises), competency of the applicant and persons responsible for the animals, risk mitigation measures, containment, contingency planning and animal welfare.

• A permit application may be refused. The permit application fee is non-refundable.

• A permit if issued will be for a limited period of time. A permit holder wishing to continue permitted arrangements must re-apply for a pest animal permit and pay the relevant application fee, prior to expiry of the existing permit.

• It is an offence under the CaLP Act to fail to comply with the conditions of a pest animal permit.

Please forward any queries regarding pest animal permits to:

Pest animal permit administrator
Phone: 136 186
Email: pestanimal.permit@ecodev.vic.gov.au

or write to:

Pest animal permit administrator
Agriculture Victoria
475 Mickleham Road
Attwood Victoria 3049

Weed permits

Selling, buying or displaying declared noxious weeds for sale without a permit is illegal.

The bringing into Victoria, selling, buying or display of declared noxious weeds for sale without a permit is illegal and penalties apply.

Furthermore, it is illegal to plant, propagate or transport a declared noxious weed, seeds of noxious weeds or any part of a noxious weed that is capable of growing regardless of whether it is packed or mixed with the parts of any other plants, including fodder or grain.

This is also true for the removal or sale of soil, sand, gravel or stone which contains or is likely to contain any part of a noxious weed, or which comes from land on which noxious weeds grow.

The department recognises that in some instances these activities can be conducted in a manner that minimises the threat they pose.

Under the CaLP Act, Agriculture Victoria may grant permits for these activities where appropriate. A permit is also required to sell or hire, or offer for hire, a substance or machinery that is used or intended to be used in primary production and which contains the seeds or any other part of a noxious weed that is capable of growing; or sell an animal which is carrying seeds of a noxious weed; or deposit on land a noxious weed or the seeds of a noxious weed that are apparently capable of germinating.

Download: Noxious weed permit application form [MS Word Document - 125.5 KB]

For more information on invasive plant permits, contact the Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or email weed.permits@ecodev.vic.gov.au.