Chemical use legislation
The Commonwealth Government agency – the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) – regulates the supply and sale of agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals nationally. The Victorian Government is responsible for regulating their use and some aspects of supply in our state.
Acts and regulations
A range of controls under Victorian legislation define how agricultural and veterinary chemicals may be supplied and used.
These controls are designed to:
- protect Victoria's trade in livestock and agricultural products
- protect the health and welfare of animals, chemical users, the general public and the environment
You can access the current Acts and legislation listed below by visiting Victorian legislation.
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Regulations 2017
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) (Fertilisers) Regulations 2015
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Infringement Notices) Regulations 2023
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Ruminant Feed) Regulations 2015
- Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981
- Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017
Commonwealth Government legislation and regulation:
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Regulations 1995
Relevant legislation administered by other government agencies (such as the Environmental Protection Authority) can also be found on Victorian legislation.
The primary piece of legislation for Victorian agvet chemical users is the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992. It imposes controls in relation to the use, application and sale of agvet chemicals, fertilisers and stock foods.
The Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Regulations 2017 sets out the record-keeping requirements for agvet chemical users. It also imposes controls on vets and mandates notification of spraying near specified places.
The Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) (Fertilisers) Regulations 2015 prescribes labelling requirements for fertilisers.
Orders in council
Additional legislative controls have been established under the Act via various Orders in Council which further regulates the use of agvet chemicals and stock food in Victoria.
Order number | Regulation |
|---|---|
19950309 G9 Order | |
19960729 S086 Notice | |
19960801 G30 Order | |
19960801 G030 Order | |
20010823 G034 Order | Prohibition of use of endosulfan Ultra Low Volume (ULV) insecticides (General Gazette G34 Dated 23 August 2001, page 47) |
20011213 G050 Order | Exemptions under section 5 (relating to scientific use, off-label use by vets and commercial use in a residential garden)(General Gazette G50 Dated 13 December 2001, page 58) |
20021017 G042 Order | Regulating the use of certain agricultural chemical products containing pindone (General Gazette G42 Dated 17 October 2002, page 77) |
20030313 G011 Order | Regulating the off-label use of insecticides on harvested grain (General Gazette G11 Dated 13 March 2003, page 40) |
20060223 G008 Notice | Incorporating material – Extended Mallee ACCA (spray equipment) (General Gazette G8 Dated 23 February 2006, page 22) |
20060223 G008 Order | Prohibiting the spraying of specified agricultural chemical products by specific spraying equipment in the Extended Mallee ACCA (General Gazette G8 Dated 23 February 2006, page 71) |
20080508 G19 Order | Prohibiting or regulating the sale or use of certain veterinary chemical products (General Gazette G19 Dated 8 May 2008, page 60) |
20120322 G12 Order | Contaminated stock Order (General Gazette G12 Dated 22 March 2012, page 108) |
20160303 G9 Order | Order prohibiting feeding stock food containing RAM to ruminants (General Gazette Number G9 Dated 3 March 2016, page 36) |
20191128 G48 Order | Regulating the use of specified chemical products under certain licences and permits (General Gazette Number G48, Dated 28 November 2019, page 70) |
GG2018S495 Order | Order prohibiting the use of chemical products for which registration is suspended or cancelled in certain circumstances (Special Gazette Number S495 Dated 23 October 2018, page 2) |
20211209 G49 Order | Order regulating aerial spraying from remotely piloted aircraft (General Gazette Number G49 Dated 9 December 2021, page 43) |
| 20220127 G4 Order | Order to exempt off-label use of agricultural chemical products for low-risk circumstances (General Gazette Number G4 Dated 27 January 2022, page 26) |
| 20241001 S526 Order | Regulating the use of chemical products containing sodium fluoroacetate (1080) or 4-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) |