A quick guide to using agricultural chemicals

This guide will help chemical users understand the basics of the agricultural and veterinary chemical use laws. The laws are there to keep people safe and protect Victoria's agriculture industry. These laws do not apply to home garden and household products

For more information on each topic visit Agriculture Victoria or scan the QR code:

QR code linking to Agriculture Victoria's Chemicals page

Training

Training is important for the safe use of agricultural chemicals. Chemicals can be dangerous if not used the right way. People who are around chemicals or use them often are more at risk.

Anyone using chemicals should think about completing a chemical use course.

Licences and permits

A person must have an agricultural chemical users permit to use some of the riskier chemicals. To get a permit you must pass the chemical training course first.

If you want to run a business using agricultural chemicals on farms, you must have a commercial operators licence.

There are also licences for businesses wanting to use aircraft to apply agricultural chemicals and licences for the pilots who work for them.

For more information about licence and permits, scan the QR code:

QR code linking to Agriculture Victoria's Chemical licences and permits page

Off-label use

In Victoria, chemical users can use some chemicals in a way that is different to the label's information. There are conditions for this type of use. More information on how to use chemicals off-label can be found at Off-label chemical use.

For more information on using chemicals off-label, scan the QR code:

QR code linking to Agriculture Victoria's Off-label chemical use page

Record keeping

Chemical use records must be made for all chemicals within 48 hours of using them and kept for 2 years.

The records must include:

  • Chemical product trade name
  • The date of use
  • The application rate of the chemical
  • The crop/commodity the chemical was used on
  • The name of the chemical user
  • The location of the chemical use
  • The wind speed and direction during application

For more information about record keeping, scan the QR code:

QR code linking to Agriculture Victoria's Keeping records of chemical use page

Page last updated: 29 Jul 2026