THE Victorian Farmers Federation has called for the brakes to be put on any plans to remove state port grain-handling regulations.

The VFF wants the Victorian Grain Handling and Storage Access Regime to remain in place while the market grapples with new federal regulations.

It has also called for regulations to prevent anti-competitive behaviour at upcountry grain storages.

The Essential Services Commission is undertaking a review of the regime at Victorian ports, ahead of the October introduction of the new federal Wheat Export Marketing Act.

VFF grains group vice-president Andrew Weidemann said the state regulations should remain for at least 12 months.

Mr Weidemann, who attended an ESC hearing in Horsham in Victoria on Tuesday, said farmers wanted to see how the deregulation of the wheat industry worked before getting rid of the state regime.

"We want to keep the status quo and review it again in 12 months' time," he said.

Bulk handlers AWB Ltd, Australian Bulk Alliance and GrainCorp are keen for the state regulations to go.

But grains group president Geoff Nalder said it would be foolish to do away with existing regimes before the alternatives were known.

In its submission to the ESC, the VFF said it would prefer a national framework, but there were still many unanswered questions about the powers of the Wheat Export Marketing Act.

The VFF raised concerns that the WEMA would not include grains other than wheat.

"Since this is very new legislation, with certain aspects related to port infrastructure still not tested and completed we feel that the Victorian GHSAR should remain in place," the submission said.

The VFF has also called for more transparency regarding stocks in upcountry storages.

It said commercial storage providers should be obligated to make public the amount of grain housed in their facilities.

"Currently, one provider has the majority of commercial storage on the east coast," the VFF's submission says.

"This creates a situation whereby the other market operators are disadvantaged, without a timely picture of domestic grain stocks."

Mr Nalder said a national code of conduct and mandatory reporting of grain production, stocks and sales had been recommended last year but were not in place.

"I urge governments to keep some sort of oversight of the industry. If there is no oversight (body) then producers will feel the pain," he said.