Chemical Use Legislation
Commonwealth and Victorian Governments regulate agricultural and veterinary chemicals in Victoria. The Commonwealth Government regulates their supply and sale, while the Victorian Government regulates their use.
Acts, Regulations and Orders
You can access the current Acts and legislation listed below by visiting www.legislation.vic.gov.au
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Regulations 2007
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) (Fertiliser) Regulations 2005
For Victorian farmers, the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992 is the most important legislation. It imposes controls in relation to the use and application of agricultural chemical preparations, veterinary chemical preparations, fertilisers and stock foods. (taken from ‘Chemical Management)
The Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Regulations 2007 sets out the record-keeping requirements for agricultural and veterinary chemical users. It also imposes further control on veterinarians and mandates notification of spraying near sensitive areas.Orders regulating agricultural and veterinary chemical and stock food:
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19960729 S086 Notice |
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19960801 G030 Order |
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19980709 G027 Order |
Prohibiting or regulating the use of certain agricultural chemical products |
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20010823 G034 Order |
Prohibition of use of endosulfan Ultra Low Volume (ULV) insecticides |
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20011213 G050 Order |
Exemptions under section 5 (relating to scientific use, off-label use by vets and commercial use in a residential garden) |
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20011213 G050 Order |
Regulating the use of agricultural chemical products by authorised personnel (licences and permits) |
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20021017 G042 Order |
Regulating the use of certain agricultural chemical products containing pindone |
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20030313 G011 Order |
Regulating the off-label use of insecticides on harvested grain |
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20060223 G008 Notice |
Incorporating material - Extended Mallee ACCA (spray equipment) |
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20060223 G008 Order |
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20071220 G51 Order |
Regulating the use of perishable pest animal baits containing sodium fluoroacetate (1080) |
Prohibited Uses of Agricultural Chemical Products
Under Victorian legislation, some chemicals must only be used for specific purposes, and other chemicals must not be used for specific purposes, as detailed below:/ pA person must only use agricultural chemical products that contain the following chemicals for the purpose specified opposite the name of that chemical.
| Chemical | Permitted purpose |
|---|---|
| Chlorfluazuron | Any purpose stated on the label that is approved by the National Registration Authority for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals. |
| Sodium Fluorocatate (1080) | As a vermin destroyer for the control of foxes, rabbits, wild dogs, feral pigs. |
| Tributyl tin, Tributyl tin naphthenate, Tributyl tin oxide, Tributyl tin copolymer resin | As an industrial timber treatment. In anti-fouling marine paint for vessels greater than 25 metres in length. |
A person must not use agricultural chemical products that contain the following chemicals for the purpose specified opposite the name of that chemical.
| Chemical | Prohibited purpose |
|---|---|
| Antibiotics, peroxide and perborate | As a dairy cleanser. |
| Metham Sodium | For use in trickle irrigation systems except for trickle irrigation systems designed to apply agricultural chemicals and under plastic sheeting. For use in fixed, portable or solid set irrigation systems. For use in travelling gun, boom or side roll irrigation systems. For use in flood irrigation. For use in any other irrigation system using impact sprinklers. For use in any irrigation system operating at high pressure. For use in irrigation systems causing spray drift. |
| Methiocarb | For use in grapevines. For home gardens use as a wettable powder in packs greater than 15 grams. |
| Mevinphos, Paraquat and methamidophos | For any use if it is to be applied by means of back-mounted spraying equipment. |
| Mevinphos | For use as a vermin destroyer for the control of rabbits, foxes and birds and any other vertebrae animals. |
Victorian Agricultural Chemicals Advisory Committee
The Victorian Agricultural Chemicals Advisory Committee (VACAC) is established under the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992.
The function of the Committee is to advise the Secretary of DPI on regulation and control of the application of agricultural chemical products. The VACAC has been operational since 1993 and provides valuable input to the development of Victorian agricultural chemical use policy.
Current VACAC Membership
| Position |
Current Representative Organisation |
|---|---|
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Chairperson |
Department of Primary Industries |
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Primary producers |
Victorian Farmers Federation |
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People who work with agricultural chemical products |
vacant |
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Manufacturers of agricultural chemical products |
CropLife Australia |
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Aerial spraying industry |
Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia |
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Ground spraying industry |
Victorian Groundsprayers Association |
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Conservation interests |
Farm Tree and Landcare Association |
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Interests of consumers |
Public Health Association of Victoria |
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Local Government |
Municipal Association of Victoria |
VACAC Proceedings
The last meeting of the VACAC was held 29 August 2012.
