Import Conditions

Case: Frozen potato products for human consumption Effective 08 Jan 2016 to 26 Feb 2016

1. 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:

   1. french fries or chips
      

   2. wedges
      

   3. cubed in mixed vegetables
      

   4. hash browns
      

   5. mashed and formed shapes (e.g. 'Smiles', potato waffles, pommes noisettes, crunchy potato puffs)
      

   6. roast potatoes
      

   7. potato gems
      

   8. potato skins.
      

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

3. Frozen potato products must be verified as having been appropriately processed. This process includes preparation, precooking, and storing at or below -18°C.
   

   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:

   1. Evidence that the product has been washed.
      

   2. Evidence that the product has been cut or sliced.
      

   3. 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:

   1. Country of origin.
      

   2. Botanical name.
      

   3. Packaging information.
      

   4. Processing information.
      

   5. Hard frozen statement.
      

   6. A statement that the produce has been continuously maintained at -18°C or below for a period of at least 7 days.
      

Warnings and Information Notices


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.


4. Note - Manufacturing Declarations will no longer be accepted as acceptable commercial documentation to verify the freezing process from 1 August 2013.

5. Produce must be commercially prepared and packaged in clean and new packaging.

6. 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.

7. The goods must arrive frozen.

8. 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.

9. 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.

Warnings and Information Notices


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.


10. 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.

11. 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 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.