Import Conditions

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

1. The following import conditions apply to Centrosema spp.



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

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).



Consignments arriving via international mail that are not correctly labelled with the full botanical name (genus and species) will be directed for immediate destruction (including consignments posted using an international postal Express Mail Service).

5. 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’.

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

   Importer’s Name
   Importer’s Address
   C/- Inspections Group
   Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry regional office

7. 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.

Import conditions on arrival in Australian territory

8. 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.

9. If live insects or other pests are found they will be referred to a Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 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, Fisheries and Forestry entomologist and with the consent of the importer.

10. 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.

11. Following inspection, all seed must be contained and securely packaged to the satisfaction of a biosecurity officer and forwarded directly to the approved arrangement site (Class 5.24, 6.1 or 20.0).

12. All seed must be grown in a closed quarantine facility at either:

    1. An Australian Government (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) post-entry quarantine (class 20.0), or

    2. A quarantine-approved post-entry quarantine facility (class 5.24, 5.4 or 6.1) operating under an approved arrangement with the department (the importer is responsible for confirming that the post-entry quarantine facility is approved for growing the species being imported).

Related Information:

• Rationale: Post-entry quarantine for restricted seeds

13. There are scheduled fees associated with the growth of seed lines in an Australian Government (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) 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. Prior to sowing, all seed must be treated with Thiram® seed fungicide.



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


Related Information:

• Rationale: Seed treatment

15. Treated seed must be grown in a closed quarantine facility (class 5.24, 6.1 or 20.0) for disease screening.

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

    1. seedling emergence
       

    2. halfway through the growing period
       

    3. heading and flowering
       

    4. a final inspection of the harvested seed.
       

17. For seed lines grown in a post-entry quarantine facility operating under a process management system approved arrangement with the department:

    1. All seed lines must be inspected for pest and disease symptoms at the four mandatory stages of growth and at regular intervals during the growing period by a person authorised under a process management system approved arrangement with the department to perform biosecurity activities.
    2. Fungicides and growth regulators are not to be used on plants without prior approval from a biosecurity officer.
    3. Any seed grown for the purposes of release in a class 5.2 or 5.21 AA site must be grown under optimal conditions (temperature, light, hours etc) for growth conducive to glasshouse conditions.
    4. Seed species listed on this permit must only be grown at the AA sites listed above where they are covered by the AA site’s process management system approved arrangement.

    5. The approved arrangement site operator must maintain records detailing:

       5.1. The results of all inspections including the name and position of the inspecting person and the dates of the inspections for each seed line.

       5.2. All plant material/seed held and grown in the biosecurity approved post-entry quarantine facility. These records may be subject to audit by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

    6. Release of material from biosecurity control is subject to provision of a Release Request Form detailing the name and position of the inspecting person, the dates and results of the four mandatory inspections of each seed line. Release Request Forms must be forwarded to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry regional office for approval and notification of release from biosecurity control.

18. If an exotic pest or disease is detected, the Biosecurity Imports Support Team must be contacted immediately for further advice.

19. Seed from plants screened and found to be free of disease may be released from biosecurity control by a biosecurity officer.

20. Once seed has been harvested for release, all other related plant material including plants, residues, derivatives and materials that have been in contact with the imported material must be subjected to one of the following treatments:

    1. autoclaving at a gauge pressure 105kPa (15psi), 121°C for 30 minutes, or
    2. high temperature incineration, or
    3. irradiation at 25kGy (2.5Mrad), or
    4. any other treatment approved by the department.

21. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry reserves the right at any time to:

    1. apply further controls on the growth of non-permitted seed lines.
    2. rescind the right of approved arrangement site operators to grow non-permitted seed lines.

Additional information

22. 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.

23. 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.