Alerts

1. Import permits now required for Colombia, Ecuador and Kenya
   
   From 1 September 2019, cut flowers and foliage produced in Kenya, Colombia and Ecuador using a systems approach can only be imported with a valid import permit.
   
   Note: Flowers produced and treated using methyl bromide fumigation or an alternative treatment, approved by the country’s National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO), will not require a permit to be imported into Australia.
   
   Import permits have been introduced to reduce the high number of shipments arriving with live pests of biosecurity concern. The use of permits will also allow us to quickly respond to individual importer non-compliances.
   
   Permits will initially be granted for a short period to allow us to assess the effectiveness of the permit conditions at reducing the biosecurity risk. We will only agree to issue further permits if we can see that compliance is improving and that the number of shipments with live pests of biosecurity concern is reducing.
   
   

2. Onshore management of consignments with incomplete phytosanitary certification
   
   From 1 September 2019, Australia will no longer accept consignments of fresh cut flowers and foliage that arrive with incomplete phytosanitary certificates. This includes certificates with missing or incomplete additional declarations.
   
   Consignments arriving with incomplete phytosanitary certification will be secured at the border until updated certification is provided by the exporting country’s National Plant Protection Organisation.
   
   Where amended certification cannot be provided, importers will be directed to dispose of or export the goods from Australia.
   

Who does this alert affect?
Importers, approved arrangements, freight forwarders and brokers that deal with imported cut flowers and foliage.

Further information:
Please see the department's webpage for importing cut flowers and foliage.

For enquiries please phone 1800 900 090 (when prompted press 1 and then 1 again) or email imports@agriculture.gov.au.