Agriculture Victoria – Duties and Fees Relief Package
This program aims to reduce the cost of doing business for Victoria’s primary producers affected by drought.
The measures form part of the $144 million Drought Support Package aimed at helping Victoria’s agriculture sector manage current conditions.
Plant biosecurity service fees
- For nursery and horticulture producers, Biosecurity Victoria is waiving fees for various plant biosecurity services from 1 October 2025.
- These include service fees for arrangement applications, arrangement audits, verification inspections, area and property freedom approvals, and any associated travel costs.
- Other plant biosecurity service fees for 2025-26 will remain at the same rate as 2024-25.
- For a full list of Biosecurity Victoria’s plant biosecurity service fees including service delivery where the fee will be waived, visit fees and charges for plant biosecurity services.
Food safety registration fees – horticulture and regulated cropping
- As of 1 October 2025, food safety registration fees will be waived for producers in the 12 local government areas currently deemed as experiencing the worst drought conditions dating back more than 2 years. These LGAs are in south west Victoria.
- Food safety registration fees for 2025–26 will remain at the same rate as 2024–25 for all primary producers outside of these LGAs.
- Food safety registration fees for all producers in Victoria are currently charged at a 50% reduction as part of the rollout of this program. In addition, no audit fees will be charged until February 2027.
- Food safety registration fees are separate services to plant biosecurity services.
- The 12 eligible LGAs include Ararat, Moyne, Colac Otway, Pyrenees, Corangamite, Southern Grampians, Glenelg, Surf Coast, Golden Plains, Warrnambool, City of Greater Geelong and West Wimmera (postcodes 3312, 3317, 3318 and 3319).
For more information: visit Duties and fees relief package | Grants and financial support | Drought support | Farm management | Agriculture Victoria
