Pesticide licence in the Northern Territory: ground spraying business and applicator licences
What the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 2004, its 2005 Regulations and the Australian Business Licence and Information Service say about the ground spraying business licence, applicator licence classes, the three year term and records.
Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 9, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.
This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. The sources are the Northern Territory Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 2004 (version in force at March 3, 2023), the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Regulations 2005 (version in force at December 16, 2021) and the Australian Government's business licence listing for the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory Department of Agriculture and Fisheries pages answered with a browser check on October 9, 2026, so they are not used. Later amendments to either text would not appear here. The parent page, pesticide licences by country, has the national background.
At a glance
| Item | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Agency | Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Chemical Services; the Chemicals Coordinator grants licences under the Act |
| Credentials for work for hire | Ground spraying business licence; ground spray applicator's licence, unrestricted or restricted |
| Category for trees and turf | No ornamental or turf category; the business listing names lawn and garden insect, disease and weed control among covered services |
| Qualification | Qualifications the Chemicals Coordinator sets by Gazette notice; the pages read do not list them |
| Fees | The business listing says no fee is paid; the Act refers to a determined fee |
| Term | 3 years, or 1, 2, 4 or 5 years if the licence says so; ends June 30 |
| Renewal | Application received by May 31 before the June 30 expiry |
| Insurance or bond | Not stated on the pages read |
Who needs a licence
According to section 57 of the Act, no person may conduct a ground spraying business, or say they provide a ground spraying service for fee or reward, unless authorised by a ground spraying business licence and following its conditions. The penalty is 200 penalty units for a natural person and 1,000 for a body corporate. Section 58 says a professional ground spraying applicator, meaning a business licensee or its employee, may not operate spraying equipment for a class of spraying unless authorised by the business licence or by a ground spray applicator's licence of the prescribed class. Ground spraying means spraying, spreading or dispersing an agricultural chemical product from a machine or other equipment other than an aircraft in flight. Section 61 leaves out spraying under a pest management technician licence under the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2012 and under a licence under the Dangerous Goods Regulations 1985.
Classes and qualifications
According to regulation 19 of the 2005 Regulations, the Chemicals Coordinator may grant an unrestricted ground spray applicator's licence, which covers all classes of ground spraying, or a restricted one limited to the class written on it. Under section 63 of the Act, if the Chemicals Coordinator has set qualifications by Gazette notice for a ground spraying business licence or a class of applicator's licence, the licence cannot be granted without them. The Coordinator may also require a medical examination for an applicant or holder of an applicator's licence and may refuse, cancel or suspend on medical advice. Regulation 9 says a person must not have or use a prescribed product unless they have completed an approved training course for handling it, or are authorised to use it under a ground spray applicator's licence or a pilot (chemical rating) licence and follow that licence.
Term, renewal and conditions
Section 64 sets the term at 3 years unless the licence states 1, 2, 4 or 5 years, and the term starts on the July 1 after grant. Section 65 requires a renewal application, with the determined fee, to reach the Chemicals Coordinator by May 31 before the June 30 expiry, and if it does, the licence stays in force until the decision. The Coordinator may cancel or suspend for broken conditions, for an offence against the Act or a chemical misuse offence in another Australian jurisdiction, or for information that would have prevented the grant. A licence cannot be transferred. The business licence listing gives a maximum of 3 years, expiry on June 30 of the third year, and says no fee is payable. It lists the services as including insect, disease or weed control in lawns and gardens.
Records and drift
Section 72 requires a ground spraying business licensee to keep a record of each spraying occasion for 2 years, in the approved form, and to produce it to a chemical adviser on request. Regulation 11 lists what is recorded, including the name and address of the user, the business, licensee and client, the full product name and registration number, and the rate. Section 56 makes it an offence to spray in a way that injuriously affects plants or stock outside the target area, with a defence where the plants or stock have no commercial value.
Sources
- Northern Territory Legislation, Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 2004, as in force at March 3, 2023, read October 9, 2026
- Northern Territory Legislation, Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Regulations 2005, as in force at December 16, 2021, read October 9, 2026
- Australian Government, Australian Business Licence and Information Service, Professional Ground Spraying Business Licence Northern Territory, read October 9, 2026