Import Conditions

Case: Cocos spp. seed for sowing Effective 30 Jul 2020 to 03 Sep 2020

1. The following import requirements apply to imported Cocos spp. seed.

2. Prior to the importation of goods into Australian territory, a valid import permit issued by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 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).
   



Important reminder to importers


Goods that require a valid import permit, but arrive without one, including where an import permit application is currently under consideration, will be directed for export from Australian territory or required to be destroyed in an approved manner.


3. Prior to export, the plants or plant products must be inspected or tested by the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) according to appropriate procedures and be considered free from biosecurity pests.
   

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

   The declaration "This is to certify that the plants, plant products or other regulated articles described herein have been inspected and/or tested according to appropriate official procedures and are considered to be free from the quarantine pests specified by the importing contracting party and to conform with the current phytosanitary requirements of the importing contracting party, including those for regulated non-quarantine pests."
   

   If the phytosanitary certificate is issued after dispatch the date of inspection must be identified as an additional declaration.
   

4. Seed must be free of live insects, soil, disease symptoms, contaminant seed, other plant material (leaf, stem material, fruit pulp, pod material, etc.), animal material (animal faeces, feathers, etc.) and any other extraneous contamination of biosecurity concern.

5. Each shipment must be packed in clean, new packaging, clearly labelled with the full botanical name (i.e. genus and species).

6. In order to facilitate clearance, airfreight or mail shipments should have all documentation securely attached to the outside of the package, and clearly marked ‘Attention Quarantine’.

7. Airfreight and mail shipments must be addressed in the following manner:

   Importer’s Name
   Importer’s Address
   C/- Inspections Group
   Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment regional office

8. The importer is responsible for contacting the post-entry quarantine facility to confirm all arrangements, including space availability and number of seed lines, prior to the goods arriving in Australian territory.

9. All consignments must be inspected on arrival by a biosecurity officer for freedom from live insects, soil, disease symptoms, contaminant seed, other plant material (leaf, stem material, fruit pulp, pod material, etc.), animal material (animal faeces, feathers, etc.) and any other extraneous contamination of biosecurity concern.

10. If live insects or other pests are found they will be referred to a Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment entomologist for advice on an appropriate remedial action, which may include treatment (if an appropriate treatment is available), export or disposal.



Fumigation can reduce the germination rate of sowing seed. Fumigation should only be undertaken following consultation with a Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment entomologist and with the consent of the importer.


11. Following inspection, all seed must be contained and securely packaged to the satisfaction of a biosecurity officer and forwarded directly to the following approved arrangement site for closed quarantine growth and disease screening at AA class 20.0.

12. All seed must be grown in a Government post-entry quarantine facility at:

    Name of  facility	Contact details for lodging a booking
    Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Post Entry Quarantine Facility, Mickleham, VIC	Bookings are made online through the Post Entry Biosecurity System Email: PEQservices@agriculture.gov.au Phone: 1800 900 090



The importer is responsible for contacting the facility to confirm all arrangements, including space availability and number of plants, prior to the plant material arriving in Australian territory. Importers must clearly nominate on the import permit applications the facility that their material is to be sent to.


13. There are scheduled fees associated with the growth of seed lines in an Australian Government (Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment) post-entry quarantine facility. These fees are to be met by the importer. Refer to the department's Charging guidelines for further information. State/territory government post-entry quarantine facilities may have different fee schedules and importers are advised to contact the relevant state/territory department for details.

14. The seed must be fumigated with methyl bromide at 32 g/m³ for 3 hours at a minimum temperature of 21ºC.



All treatments must be performed at an approved arrangement site (AA site) by a biosecurity officer, by an authorised person under a process management system approved arrangement with the department, or under the supervision of a biosecurity officer.


15. Treated seed must be grown in closed quarantine facility 20.0 for a minimum of 18 months for disease screening, followed by 6 months in open quarantine.

16. During growth in quarantine plants must be inspected at the following stages of growth:

    1. Seedling emergence.
       

    2. Halfway through the growing period.
       

    3. At the end of the 18 months quarantine period and prior to removal of the plants from the closed quarantine facility to the quarantine approved open quarantine area.
       

    Note: The inspection must be performed by a department approved person or department approved biosecurity plant pathologist for disease symptoms. It is the importer's responsibility to notify the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment regional office or the department approved person when the plant material has reached the compulsory inspection stages.

17. If an exotic pest or disease is detected, the Client Contact Group Canberra must be contacted immediately for further advice.

18. Plants that have been screened and found to be free of disease symptoms will be transferred to an open quarantine area for a minimum of 6 months growth in post-entry quarantine. Plants must be visually inspected by a biosecurity officer for any disease symptoms.

19. Following 6 months growth in open quarantine and provided the plants have produced sufficient new growth to enable them to be screened for any disease symptoms, the plants may be released from biosecurity control by a biosecurity officer.

20. If disease symptoms are detected an assessment of the biosecurity risk will be made by a biosecurity plant pathologist to determine the options that may be available to the importer. Options may include 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.

21. 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, Water and the Environment for all services. Detail on how the department applies fees and levies may be found in the Charging guidelines.

22. In addition to the conditions for the goods being imported, non-commodity concerns must be assessed including container cleanliness, packaging and destination concerns, and may be subject to inspection and treatment on arrival. Please refer to the Non-Commodity Cargo Clearance BICON case for further information.