Import Conditions

Case: Raw and sun dried tobacco Effective 23 Feb 2017 to 04 Mar 2017

1. These conditions only apply to unprocessed raw and sun dried tobacco. The importation of cut rag, cigarettes, cigars or roll your own (RYO) products are not subject to quarantine.

2. Prior to the importation of goods into Australia, a valid import permit issued by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is required.
   

   An import permit may be obtained by submitting an import permit application to the department (if viewed online, use the 'Apply Now' button at the bottom of this page).
   

3. The importation of unmanufactured tobacco leaf and seed is prohibited under the Customs (Prohibited Import) Regulations 1956 unless the person importing the material is the holder of an import licence granted by the Australian Taxation Office. More information can be found on the ATO website.

4. Tobacco is also a prohibited plant under Schedule 1 of Standard 1.4.4 ‘Prohibited and Restricted Plants and Fungi’, of the Australian Food Standards Code. A plant, or a part or a derivative of a plant listed in schedule 1, or any substance derived there from, must not be intentionally added to food or offered for sale as food in Australia.

5. Certain species of plants/fungi and plant products contain drugs or precursors of drugs that are prohibited under Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956. 

Warnings and Information Notices


Below is a list of those plant/fungus species and plant products that are prohibited under Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 as at September 30 2010.  This list is provided for information only and is subject to change.  Refer to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service website for current details.



Plants, parts of plants and seeds prohibited under Customs regulations:


1. Argyreia nervosa
   

2. Cannabis sativa (Marijuana) - Cannabis and cannabis resin
   

3. Catha edulis (Khat)
   

4. Erythroxylonspp. (Cocaine)
   

5. Ipomoea hederacea
   

6. Ipomoea tricolor
   

7. Ipomoea violacea
   

8. Lophophora spp. - Any species of this genus
   

9. Papaver bracteatum
   

10. Nicotiana tabacum (Raw and sun-dried)
    

11. Papaver sominferum (Opium poppy)
    

12. Piper methysticum (Kava)
    

13. Piptadenia peregrina (Anadenanthera peregrina)
    

14. Rivea corymbosa
    
    

Fungi and plant products prohibited under Customs regulations:


1. Chewing tobacco and snuff intended for oral use, imported in an amount weighing more than 1.5 kilograms
   

2. Fungi that contain psilocine or psilocybine.
   

6. Any packaging used with the consignment must be clean and new.

7. All consignments will be referred to Customs, before processing for quarantine.

8. Consignments will be subject to one of the following prior to release:

   1. Inspection to verify that it is free of seeds, live insects, soil and other biosecurity risk material prior to heat treatment, hot air at not less than 85 °C for at least 8 hours once the core temperature has been reached.
      Caution: Products may smoulder or ignite with heat treatment.
      

   2. Inspection to verify that it is free of seeds, live insects, soil and other biosecurity risk material prior to ethylene oxide fumigation, under initial minimum vacuum of 50 kilopascals at 1200 g/m³ for 5 hours at 50 ºC; or 1500 g/m³ for 24 hours at 21 ºC.
      

   3. Processing at a class 3.0 AA site: Consignments may be subject to random inspection to verify that the commodity is free of live insects, soil and other biosecurity risk material.
      

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

10. Each consignment will be subject to an inspection to verify that it is free of seeds, live insects, soil and other biosecurity risk material.

11. If biosecurity risk material such as live insects, soil, seeds, animal material or faecal matter is found on inspection, the consignment must be held and the contaminants must be treated using an approved method by the department, exported or disposed of at the importer’s expense.

12. 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.

13. 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.