Report a chemical use issue
Agriculture Victoria investigates reports about the supply and use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals. This work is in line with the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992.
This includes responding to reports from the public regarding inappropriate or potentially illegal chemical supply or use. For example, reported concerns may be about:
- chemical misuse
- spray drift
- chemical residues that may be above acceptable limits.
We treat all reports seriously and respectfully.
Make a report to Agriculture Victoria
Contact Agriculture Victoria if you believe another person’s chemical use has affected your:
- crops
- agricultural products
- livestock
- land.
You can make a report by:
- completing the contact form of this page
- calling the Agriculture Victoria Customer Contact Centre on 136 186.
Before you report an issue, check that Agriculture Victoria is the right agency to contact.
Report a health concern
Contact the environmental health officer at your local council if you have a public health concern about agricultural chemicals.
Speak to a doctor as soon as possible if you or another person feels unwell.
For urgent poisoning advice, call the Victorian Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26. The service is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Contact WorkSafe Victoria if the chemical issue happened at work. Call WorkSafe Victoria on 1800 136 089.
Contact the Environment Protection Authority Victoria about:
- pollution
- contaminated land
- chemicals placed or released in the wrong location.
You can contact the Environment Protection Authority Victoria by:
- calling 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) at any time
- emailing contact@epa.vic.gov.au
Odours can come from many sources including:
- landfills
- processing plants
- waste treatment facilities
- farms
- food manufacturing sites
- agricultural chemicals.
People may experience the same odour differently. Some people are more sensitive to odours than others.
The effect of an odour can depend on:
- where the odour comes from
- how long a person is exposed to it
- whether the person has any existing sensitivities.
The Environment Protection Authority Victoria provides advice about how to describe an odour.
Understand agricultural chemical odours
Agricultural chemicals are used to:
- control insect pests
- manage plant diseases
- control weeds
- manage crop growth.
An agricultural chemical may have an odour for the following reasons:
- The product contains an ingredient with an odour.
- Several chemical applications have occurred in the same area.
- Weather conditions have carried or trapped the odour.
Ingredients with an odour may include:
- the active chemical
- solvents
- warning agents
- substances that help the product work.
Hot or humid weather can help carry odours. Low winds can also trap odours close to the ground. This can happen during a temperature inversion. A temperature inversion occurs when warm air traps cooler, still air near the ground.
An odour does not always mean a chemical is present in the air. It also does not always mean someone used an agricultural chemical illegally.
Get help if an odour makes you feel unwell
Seek medical help as soon as possible if you or someone else feels unwell.
For urgent poisoning advice, call the Victorian Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.
Report odour from an industrial facility
The Environment Protection Authority Victoria sets air quality standards in Victoria. It responds to odour reports about industrial sites and large facilities. Report odour pollution by calling the EPA 24-hour hotline on 1300 372 842.
Report a local odour issue
Local councils may have rules that residents and businesses must follow. Contact your local council if a persistent odour is causing concern.
Report possible damage from agricultural chemicals
Contact Agriculture Victoria if you believe agricultural chemical use has affected your:
- crop
- Agricultural products
- livestock
- land.
This includes possible damage caused by spray drift. Call the Agriculture Victoria Customer Contact Centre on 136 186.
What happens after you make a report
Agriculture Victoria will assess your report and decide how to respond. You may need to provide information about the issue.
Read more about reporting an agricultural chemical use issue to Agriculture Victoria.
Privacy notice
Agriculture Victoria will use the information you provide to assess and respond to your report. We may share your information with another government agency if the issue is outside our responsibilities. The other agency may use the information to respond to the issue.
Read the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) Privacy Policy for more information.
Contact form
Use the following form to report an agricultural chemical use issue.
For general enquiries and questions please contact the Customer Service Centre on 136 186.