Import Conditions
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Case: Frozen potato products for human consumption Effective 22 Dec 2015 to 08 Jan 2016
Import Conditions
Import conditions define the biosecurity requirements which must be met for your import. Where import conditions have been developed, they will be listed below.
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These conditions apply to commercially produced frozen potato products that have been prepared (for example peeled, cut and blanched) prior to freezing. These products are intended to be cooked prior to consumption.
The products that are covered by these conditions are commonly sold in supermarket freezer cabinets as:
french fries or chips
wedges
cubed in mixed vegetables
hash browns
mashed and formed shapes (e.g. 'Smiles', potato waffles, pommes noisettes, crunchy potato puffs)
roast potatoes
potato gems
potato skins.
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A Department of Agriculture import permit is not required.
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To demonstrate compliance with this requirement you must present the following on a Freezing declaration, Packing list, Supplier declaration, Exporter declaration, Export certificate or Commercial invoice:
Frozen potato products must be verified as having been appropriately processed. This process includes preparation, precooking, and storing at or below -18°C.
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Evidence that the product has been washed.
Evidence that the product has been cut or sliced.
Evidence that the product has been blanched, parboiled or parfried (precooked).
AND
You must present the following on a Freezing declaration, Packing list, Supplier declaration, Exporter declaration, Export certificate, Commercial invoice or Beneficiary certificate:-
Country of origin.
Botanical name.
Packaging information.
Processing information.
Hard frozen statement.
A statement that the produce has been continuously maintained at -18°C or below for a period of at least 7 days.
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Note - Manufacturing Declarations will no longer be accepted as acceptable commercial documentation to verify the freezing process from 1 August 2013.
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Produce must be commercially prepared and packaged in clean and new packaging.
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All consignments must be free of soil, live insects, contamination with prohibited weed seeds, leaf, stem material and other biosecurity risk material, including whole and cracked unprocessed grains.
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The goods must arrive frozen.
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Consignments meeting the above conditions may be released without an inspection. Goods are subject to random verification inspections to verify the frozen state of the goods and to check for non-invoiced items.
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Once biosecurity requirements have been met, it is the importer's responsibility to ensure that all imported food complies with the Imported Food Control Act 1992.
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Under the Quarantine Service Fees Determination 2005, fees are payable to the Department of Agriculture for all services. A list of all quarantine & export fees is available on the Department of Agriculture's website.
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Non-commodity information requirements for imported cargo also apply, please refer to the BICON case Non-Commodity Cargo Clearance.
The freezing process only begins when the core temperature reaches -18°C. The core temperature of -18°C must be maintained over 7 consecutive days.
The standards for labelling and composition of all food sold in Australia are set down in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
It is the responsibility of the importer to comply with the Act and ensure imported food meets the requirements of the Food Standards Code and any other relevant Australian standards or requirements.
The Department of Agriculture monitors food safety hazards and compliance with the Food Standards Code by means of the Imported Food Inspection Scheme. The website provides information on how food is referred to the scheme.
Under the scheme the food may be held for inspection and testing. The inspection will involve a visual and label assessment and may also include sampling the food for testing.
All imported food is considered 'surveillance'. The tests that apply to surveillance food are detailed in Tests applied to surveillance food.
Timber packaging, pallets or dunnage associated with the consignment may be subject to inspection and treatment on arrival, unless sufficient evidence of a Department of Agriculture approved treatment is provided.
All documentation presented to the department to assist in determining the level of biosecurity risk posed by transportation pathways and packaging must also meet the requirements of the non-commodity case.
What happens next?
When you are importing into Australia a departmental officer will assess the risk posed by your import and determine the appropriate outcome to apply. You may use the link below to view the likely outcomes for this particular import scenario. Please be aware that the assessment conducted may result in an outcome that is not listed.
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