A man has been arrested over dozens of suspicious packages that prompted evacuations at international embassies across Melbourne.

Federal police arrested a Shepparton man, 48, last night.

He is accused of sending 38 parcels to consulates and embassies in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, with a substance suspected to have been sourced from his Shepparton home.

The American, British, Indian, Italian, New Zealand, Korean, Egyptian, Pakistani, Greek, Danish, Spanish, Japanese, Thai and German consulates were among those impacted in Melbourne yesterday afternoon.

Police have so far recovered 29 of these packages, with forensic testing to be undertaken on them to determine the exact composition of the material in them.

The man is expected to face court in Melbourne later today, charged with sending dangerous articles to be carried by a postal service.

The AFP says the maximum penalty for the offence the man has been charged with is 10 years imprisonment.

(Image above: Firefighters outside one of the consulates evacuated yesterday 7 News/Kristy Mayr)