Legislation and regulation

The department undertakes key roles across agriculture sectors in Victoria, either directly, through statutory agencies or with partner agencies across the Victorian Government. The department administers various pieces of legislation which support these activities.

In addition, the department also administers legislation regulating:

• animal welfare
• fisheries
• food safety
• forestry
• game hunting.

All legislation is available on the Victorian Legislation website.

Administered legislation

The following Acts and regulations relate to the agriculture portfolio of the department.

• Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992
  • – Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) (Fertilisers) Regulations 2015
  • – Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) (Infringement Notices) Regulations 2013
  • – Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Regulations 2017
  • – Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) (Ruminant Feed) Regulations 2015

• Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Victoria) Act 1994
• Agricultural Industry Development Act 1990
  • – Agricultural Industry Development (Polls) Regulations 2021
• Biological Control Act 1986
• Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994
  • – Catchment and Land Protection Regulations 2012
  • – Catchment and Land Protection (Register of Interests) Regulations 2016
• Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987
  • – Conservation, Forests and Lands (Infringement Notice) Regulations 2013
  • – Conservation, Forests and Lands (Fisheries Infringement Notices) Regulations 2020
  • – Conservation, Forests and Lands (Primary Industries Infringement Notices) Regulations 2013
• Control of Genetically Modified Crops Act 2004
• Dairy Act 2000
• Domestic Animals Act 1994
  • – Domestic Animals Regulations 2015
• Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981
  • – Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances (Industrial Hemp) Regulations 2018
  • – Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances (Poppy Cultivation and Processing) Regulations 2014
• Farm Debt Mediation Act 2011
• Fisheries Act 1995
  • – Fisheries Regulations 2019
  • – Fisheries (Fees, Royalties and Levies) Regulations 2017
• Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988
  • – Flora and Fauna Guarantee Regulations 2020
• Food Act 1984
• Forests Act 1958
• Forests (Wood Pulp Agreement) Act 1996
• Game Management Authority Act 2014
• Grain Handling and Storage Act 1995
• Impounding of Livestock Act 1994
  • – Impounding of Livestock Regulations 2018
• Livestock Disease Control Act 1994
  • – Livestock Disease Control Regulations 2017
• Livestock Management Act 2010
  • – Livestock Management Regulations 2021
• Meat Industry Act 1993
  • – Meat Industry Regulations 2015
• Melbourne Market Authority Act 1977
• Plant Biosecurity Act 2010
  • – Plant Biosecurity Regulations 2016
• Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986
  • – Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2019
  • – Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Domestic Fowl) Regulations 2016
• Rural Assistance Schemes Act 2016
• Seafood Safety Act 2003
  • – Seafood Safety Regulations 2014
• Stock (Seller Liability and Declarations) Act 1993
• Sustainable Forest (Timber) Act 2004
• Veterinary Practice Act 1997
  • – Veterinary Practice Regulations 2018
• Wildlife Act 1975
  • – Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012