Alerts

The department advises importers, customs brokers and regional officers that revised conditions for dried vegetables for human consumption will take effect from 19 June 2017.

Changes to the conditions for Dried Vegetables for Human Consumption include:

• Removing the permitted species lists on dried vegetable for human consumption.
  

• Moving the conditions for the Freeze-dried vegetables for human consumption case into the Dried vegetables for human consumption case.
  

• Removing the requirement for blanching of all dried vegetables.
  

• Allowing solar (sun) drying of vegetables to a moisture content of 10% or less.
  

• Allow Caulerpa taxifolia as dried seaweed.
  

• Allow freeze-dried products to be released without inspection after a compliant document assessment.
  

• Incorporate the products listed in the dried leaves case into the dried herb case.
  

• Removing the permit requirement for Raw and sun Dried Tobacco.
  

• Moving the conditions for the Dried ginger for human consumption case into the Dried vegetables for human consumption case.
  

Importers are reminded of their responsibility to ensure that imported consignments meet Australia’s import requirements, including freedom from pests of biosecurity concern.

This alert applies to the following cases:

• Dried vegetables for human consumption
  

• Freeze-dried vegetables for human consumption
  

• Dried Seaweed for human consumption
  

• Dried leaves for human consumption
  

• Dried ginger for human consumption
  

Background to the revised conditions:

As part of a systematic review (http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/online-services/bicon/review-import-conditions) of all Australia’s import conditions which is being conducted over the next three years, the department recently reviewed dried vegetables for human consumption import requirements from all countries. It found that the current import conditions can sufficiently mitigate the potential biosecurity risk posed by this commodity, however the conditions have imposed unnecessary burden on the importing public and industry such as the requirement for blanching and restricting imports to certain species. The review also leads to streamlining import conditions for dried vegetables of similar nature and risk currently disseminated in BICON.

Clients wanting to know more about the changes and information on the import conditions review can email planticr@agriculture.gov.au.

For general inquiries on the current import conditions please email imports@agriculture.gov.au or phone 1800 900 090.