The Victorian Government has asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to investigate a campaign targeting businesses with links to Israel.

The pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) group has staged several protests calling for a boycott of businesses that do business with Israel.

The international group has targeted branches of chocolate shop Max Brenner in Melbourne and Sydney and plans similar campaigns in other capital cities.

BDS describes itself as a "wide coalition of the largest Palestinian organisations, trade unions, networks and NGOs."

It accuses Israel of being an "apartheid state" and targets businesses and non-government agencies that have links to Israel.

The Victorian Government believes the actions constitute a "secondary boycott" and are in breach of Commonwealth Laws.

The Consumer Affairs Minister, Michael O'Brien, says the campaign contravenes section 45D of the Commonwealth Competition and Consumer Act.

"The freedom to protest has always existed but there's no freedom to break the law," he said.

"There's no freedom to break the Competition and Consumer Act and certainly to think you are going to influence the policies of the government of Israel by attacking a business running in this state is just appalling."

Mr O'Brien says the campaign has been supported by the Maritime Union of Australia, Geelong Trades Hall and several left-wing political organisations.

"There are certainly very ugly undertones to these protests and it's not a path we want to go down in Victoria," he said.

Victoria's Opposition Leader, Daniel Andrews, has also condemned the campaign.

Last month, 19 activists were arrested outside a Max Brenner store in Melbourne after allegedly chaining themselves to furniture.

The group to not go within 50 metres of the company's two CBD stores.

BDS says it is "outraged" by the State Government's actions.

Spokeswoman Vashti Kenway says the Government is trying to block a legal form of protest.

"This is an attempt by the Government to criminalise any protest against Max Brenner or other corporations that support the state of Israel, and support their offensive towards the Palestinian people, and in particular their support for funding for the Israeli military, which is the point of the protests," she said.