Import Conditions

Case: Carya spp. seed for sowing Effective 26 Nov 2024

1. Only the following scientific names may be imported under this pathway.



All subordinate taxa (e.g. varieties, subspecies, forms, subforms) of listed species are also permitted.

Hybrids are permitted if all parents used for the hybridisation are listed as permitted. Imported hybrids must be clearly labelled with their full parentage for identification by the department.

If you wish to import a species that is not listed but is believed to be a synonym of a permitted species, please contact the Biosecurity Imports Support Team for an assessment.

Import conditions prior to arrival in Australian territory

2. Prior to the importation of goods into Australian territory, a valid import permit issued by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is required.

   An import permit may be obtained by submitting an import permit application to the department (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. 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.

4. Each shipment must be packed in clean, new packaging, clearly labelled with the full botanical name (i.e. genus and species).
   Note: seed (of a single species) are permitted where they are packaged between strips of clear plastic or transparent paper and where the seed can be readily examined by the biosecurity officer.

5. Shipments must not be imported as international mail articles, including goods posted using an international postal Express Mail Service.

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

7. All consignments imported into Australian territory for all end uses must meet Department standards for seed contaminants and tolerances.

Import conditions after arrival in Australian territory

8. The seed must be inspected by a biosecurity officer for the presence of live insects/snails, disease symptoms and contamination (contaminant seed, soil particles and animal and plant material). Seeds must be inspected visually with a hand lens and sieved to assess contamination. 

   If contamination is found, a sample must be drawn in accordance with ISTA procedures and submitted to a department approved seed purity testing laboratory for analysis. The consignment must be held under biosecurity control pending results of the analysis. Alternatively, the importer may choose to export or dispose of the consignment at their expense.



If the ISTA testing results confirm that the contamination exceeds Department standards for seed contaminants and tolerances, the importer will be given the option to have the seed cleaned at an approved arrangement site (AA site), exported or disposed of.


Any seed that requires cleaning must be re-sampled by a biosecurity officer (and tested if appropriate) to ensure that the contamination has been removed or reduced to an acceptable level.


9. Following inspection seeds must be treated with one of the following:

   1. phosphine at a rate of 1.0-1.5g/m³ for 10 days at temperatures between 15-25°C, or
   2. phosphine at a rate of 1.0-1.5g/m³ for 7 days at temperatures above 25°C, or
   3. cold storage at -18°C for 7 consecutive days starting when the core temperature of the consignment reaches -18°C.


It is the importer’s responsibility to arrange access to an appropriate approved arrangement site, which is suitable for performing the treatment. Importers must clearly nominate the intended treatment facility on the import permit application.



Please note that this treatment may affect seed germination. The Department recommends that importers conduct a trial on a small quantity of seed to ensure that the treatment will result in an acceptable seed viability percentage.


10. Following treatment, the seeds must be grown and disease screened/tested at the government post entry quarantine facility. The importer is responsible for making a booking at the facility to confirm all arrangements, including space availability and number of seeds, prior to the shipment arriving in Australia.

    Name of facility	Contact details for lodging a booking
    Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Post Entry Quarantine Facility, Mickleham, VIC	Bookings are made online through the Post Entry Biosecurity System. Email: PEQplants@aff.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.


11. Seed must be grown in closed quarantine for a minimum of 12 months, during which visual screening and pathogen testing are performed as outlined in the table below:

    Plant pathogen	Mandatory testing1, 2
    Xylella species	2 PCR tests

    
    ¹ Additional testing such as culturing, microscopy and molecular testing may be undertaken on symptomatic plants.
    ² The mandatory tests outlined above may be subject to change, depending on the availability of alternative testing methods and emerging quarantine risks. The importer is responsible for all costs relating to the screening/testing for any emerging/additional pathogens of biosecurity concern.

12. If live pests, disease symptoms or nematodes are detected at inspection or during the post entry quarantine period, the consignment will be placed on hold. An assessment of the biosecurity risk will be made by a biosecurity plant pathologist or entomologist to determine the options that may be available to the importer. These options may include any one of the following:

    1. appropriate risk mitigation measures (at the importer’s expense and risk) which may include further identification by the department or external service providers, treatment or growth in post entry quarantine, or
       

    2. exportation, or
       

    3. disposal.
       

    Further identification may not result in the release of 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.

13. No material will be released from biosecurity control until all testing and screening procedures have been completed and the material is screened for, and found negative of, biosecurity pathogens.

Additional information

14. 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, Fisheries and Forestry for all services. Detail on how the department applies fees and levies may be found in the Charging guidelines.

15. 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.