Import Conditions

Case: Lodoicea maldivica nuts Effective 14 Jul 2015 to 01 Aug 2015

1. A Department of Agriculture import permit is not required.

2. Coco de Mer nuts (Lodoicea maldivica) are a rare large seed that may be imported for personal use. The nuts may be sun-dried and whole, or processed into decorations.

3. This commodity or species may be subject to the Australian Government Department of the Environment legislation under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and flora (CITES). Commodities/species known to be, or considered to be covered by CITES will be referred to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (Customs and Border Protection) on arrival to Australia, in addition to their need to satisfy quarantine import conditions.

   CITES queries can be directed to the Department of the Environment¹.

Warnings and Information Notices
¹

The Department of the Environment can be contacted on:


Ph: +61 2 6274 1900 (Option 3)


Fax: +61 2 6274 1921


Email: wildlifetrade@environment.gov.au


Web: www.environment.gov.au


4. The goods must be clean and free of prohibited seed, soil, animal and plant debris and other biosecurity risk material prior to arrival in Australia.

5. On arrival in Australia, the goods must be inspected to verify that they are free of live insects, plant or animal debris, soil and other biosecurity risk material.

6. If live insects are found during inspection, the consignment will be:

   1. held pending identification by a Department of Agriculture entomologist and treated using an appropriate method, or
      

   2. exported, or
      

   3. destroyed.
      

   If other contaminants such as soil, weed seeds, sticks, or faecal matter are found on inspection, the consignment must be held, and the contaminants must be removed or treated via a method approved by the Department, if possible. Alternatively, the goods must be exported or destroyed.

7. After inspection, if the goods are not contaminated with biosecurity risk material they can be released.

8. 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.

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

Warnings and Information Notices


Containers, timber packing, pallets or dunnage associated with the consignment will be subject to inspection and treatment on arrival, unless certified as having been treated by a Department of Agriculture approved method.


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.