Import Conditions
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Case: Cocos spp. seed for sowing Effective 19 Dec 2017 to 05 Jan 2018
Import Conditions
Import conditions define the biosecurity requirements which must be met for your import. Where import conditions have been developed, they will be listed below.
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The following import requirements apply to Cocos spp. seed grown in any country.
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Prior to the importation of goods into Australian territory, 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).
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To demonstrate compliance with this requirement you must present the following on a Phytosanitary certificate:
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.
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.
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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.
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Each shipment must be packed in clean, new packaging, clearly labelled with the full botanical name (i.e. genus and species).
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Airfreight and mail shipments must be addressed in the following manner:
Importer’s Name
Importer’s Address
C/- Inspection Services Group
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources regional offices -
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’.
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All seed must be grown in a closed quarantine facility at either:
1. an Australian Government (Department of Agriculture and Water Resources) post-entry quarantine (class 20.0), or
2. a quarantine-approved post-entry quarantine facility (class 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).
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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.
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There are scheduled fees associated with the growth of seed lines in an Australian Government (Department of Agriculture and Water Resources) 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.
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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.
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If live insects or other pests are found they will be referred to a Department of Agriculture and Water Resources entomologist for advice on an appropriate remedial action, which may include treatment (if an appropriate treatment is available), export or disposal.
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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. -
The seed must be fumigated with methyl bromide at 32 g/m³ for 3 hours at a minimum temperature of 21ºC.
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Following treatment, all seed must be contained and securely packaged to the satisfaction of a biosecurity officer and forwarded directly to the approved arrangement site (Class 6.1 or 20.0).
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All seed must be grown in a closed quarantine facility (class 6.1 or 20.0) for a minimum of 6 months for disease screening.
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During growth in quarantine plants must be inspected at the following stages of growth:
Seedling emergence.
Halfway through the growing period.
At the end of the 6 months quarantine period and prior to removal of the plants from the closed quarantine facility to the quarantine approved open quarantine area.
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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 18 months growth in post-entry quarantine. Plants must be visually inspected by a biosecurity officer for any disease symptoms.
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If an exotic pest or disease is detected, the Import Services Team must be contacted immediately for further advice.
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For seed lines grown in a post-entry quarantine facility operating under an approved arrangement with the department:
All plants must be inspected for pest and disease symptoms at regular intervals during the growing period by a person authorised under an approved arrangement with the department of perform biosecurity activities.
Fungicides and growth regulators are not to be used on plants without prior approval from a biosecurity officer.
The approved arrangement site operator must maintain records detailing:
3.1 The results of all inspections including the name and position of the inspecting person, and the dates of the inspections for each seed line.
3.2 All plant material/seed held and grown in the quarantine approved post-entry quarantine facility. These records may be subject to audit by a biosecurity officer.Movement of material from the closed quarantine post-entry quarantine facility to the quarantine approved open quarantine area is subject to prior approval by a biosecurity officer. The importer must contact the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources regional offices to confirm all arrangements for the transfer of the material. Plants must be contained to the satisfaction of a biosecurity officer and transported in an enclosed vehicle to the quarantine approved open quarantine area.
Release of material from quarantine is subject to provision of a “Release Request Form”, detailing the name and position of the inspecting person, the dates and results of the inspections. Release Request Forms must be forwarded to the the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources regional office for approval and notification of release from biosecurity control.
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Following 18 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.
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The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources reserves the right at any time to:
apply further controls on the growth of non-permitted seed lines.
rescind the right of approved arrangement site operators to grow non-permitted seed lines.
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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.
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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 BICON Non-Commodity Cargo Clearance case for further information.
Related Information:
Fumigation can reduce the germination rate of sowing seed. Fumigation should only be undertaken following consultation with a Department of Agriculture and Water Resources entomologist and with the consent of the importer.
All treatments must be performed at an approved arrangement site (AA site) by a biosecurity officer, by an authorised person under an approved arrangement with the department, or under the supervision of a biosecurity officer.
What happens next?
When you are importing into Australia a departmental officer will assess the risk posed by your import and determine the appropriate outcome to apply. You may use the link below to view the likely outcomes for this particular import scenario. Please be aware that the assessment conducted may result in an outcome that is not listed.
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