Case Glossary

A type of microorganism that is present in most habitats on the planet (including within plants and animals). Bacteria come in a range of shapes including spheres, rods and spirals and most are made up of a single cell without a nucleus. Bacterial plant pathogens cause diseases such as leaf spot, fire blight and wilts.

Biological material means any material originating from an animal, plant, microorganism or microbial source, but does not include human material.

(complementary DNA) a type of DNA that is artificially made from messenger RNA (mRNA) and use in genetic research.

Contains genetic information for the development and function of all living organisms and many viruses. DNA stores biological information, is capable of making copies of itself and is usually in the form of a double stranded helical molecule.

The plural for fungus, fungi are microorganisms that can be a single cell or a collection of cells which form a fruiting body. Fungi reproduce via the production of spores which may be spread long distances by air, water, or on equipment or clothing or they may be soil borne. Fungi include yeasts, moulds and mushrooms.

Goods include:

1. An animal
2. A plant
3. A sample or specimen of a disease agent
4. A pest
5. Mail; and
6. Any other article substance or thing.

Goods does not include ballast water or human remains. It also does not include a conveyance, except in certain circumstances.

The department will assess the application and on the basis of that assessment may decide to grant an import permit subject to any conditions deemed necessary for safe importation, use and disposal of those products.

It should be noted that applying for an import permit does not automatically result in an import permit being issued. The Director of biosecurity or their delegate issues the import permit. You should ensure that an application is submitted for each product type and that the prescribed fee accompanies the import permit application.

Laboratory/glasshouse research where material is analysed (and may be grown) but is not exposed to live plants or animals.

Infectious agent includes any of the following:

1. a virus;

2. a prion;

3. a plasmid;

4. a viroid;

5. a thing that is a part of an infectious agent.

Examples: For the purposes of point 5, capsids, envelopes, enzymes, genetic material coding for an infectious agent, proteins.

Long chemical molecules that contain genetic information and are found in all living things (including plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi), viruses and viroids. The two main types of nucleic acids are DNA and RNA.

Infectious microorganisms that cause disease in plants. These include bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, phytoplasmas, viroids and viruses.

See plant pathogens

Contains genetic information and is found in living organisms, many viruses and viroids. RNA can function as a messenger molecule (mRNA), carrying instructions from DNA for protein synthesis and is usually single stranded in structure.

Plant pathogens that consist of single stranded RNA. Viroids are the smallest known infectious agent. They cause similar symptoms to viruses although they are much smaller in size.

See viroid

An infectious agent that can only replicate inside the living cells of an organism. They consist of single or double stranded DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat.