Import Conditions

Case: Fresh asparagus for human consumption Effective 19 Apr 2017 to 22 Apr 2017

1. These import conditions apply to the following fresh produce for human consumption:

   Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis).

2. A Department of Agriculture and Water Resources import permit is not required.

3. The goods must be clean and free of biosecurity (quarantine) pests and disease, contaminant seed, soil, animal and plant debris and other biosecurity risk material prior to arrival in Australia.

4. Prior to export, the plants or plant products must be inspected or tested by the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) and certified free from biosecurity (quarantine) pests.

5. An original phytosanitary certificate must accompany each consignment and must be correctly completed.
   

   To demonstrate compliance with this requirement you must present the following on a Phytosanitary certificate:

   The additional declaration "The asparagus in this consignment has been inspected and found free from Thripidae".
   

Warnings and Information Notices


Consignments that have a phytosanitary certificate which is not correctly endorsed, or where the original phytosanitary certificate has not been sighted by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, will be held pending presentation of a correctly filled out and original phytosanitary certificate. The department will accept appropriately amended or re-issued phytosanitary certificates (including faxed or scanned copies transmitted directly to the department from the certifying authority).


6. Each consignment must be packed in clean and new packaging.

7. Each consignment must be secured (i.e. made insect-proof) prior to shipment to maintain its quarantine integrity on arrival using a secure packaging option.

8. All consignments are subject to inspection on arrival to verify compliance with import conditions before release.

9. Land-bridging of consignments under biosecurity control is not permitted without permission from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources . Air and sea underbond movement of consignments for inspection at port of destination is permitted.

10. If live insects of biosecurity concern are detected the consignment will require treatment (where appropriate), or be exported or disposed of. Any required action will be at the importer’s expense.

11. If disease symptoms are detected the consignment will be placed on hold and an assessment of the biosecurity risk will be made by the department to determine the options available to the importer. Options may include release, further identification, treatment, export or disposal.

    Further identification may not result in the release of the goods and may incur substantial additional costs and time delays for the importer. Further identification will only be offered if it is deemed feasible and the importer agrees in writing to accept all costs and risks involved.

12. If contaminants (e.g. seeds, trash, soil, feathers) are detected and determined to be of biosecurity concern, the consignment will require remedial action to remove or treat the contaminants, and will require re-inspection. If the contaminants cannot be effectively removed or treated, the consignment must be exported or disposed of. Any required action will be at the importer's expense.

13. Under the Biosecurity Charges Imposition (General) Regulation 2016 and Chapter 9, Part 2 of the Biosecurity Regulation 2016, fees are payable to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources for all services. Detail on how the department applies fees and levies may be found in the charging guidelines.

14. Non-commodity information requirements for imported cargo also apply, please refer to the BICON case Non-Commodity Cargo Clearance.

Warnings and Information Notices


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 and Water Resources 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.


15. 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 including Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

Warnings and Information Notices


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 and Water Resources 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 and what tests are applied to imported foods.


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.