Changes

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the department) has completed a Weed Risk Assessment for Piper argyrites, Piper crocatum and Piper magnificum. As a result, these species have been added as permitted species to the BICON case ‘Medium risk plants for use as nursery stock’.

Who does this notice affect:
Importers (and their customs brokers) who wish to import these species for an end use of nursery stock, and department staff.

Background:
The Weed Risk Assessment and Disease Risk Assessment systems are science-based quarantine risk analysis tools for determining the weed potential of a species and the disease risks of a genus. All plants proposed for importation into Australian territory and not currently permitted on BICON are assessed for their potential to introduce disease or become weed species in Australia. Further information on the assessment process is available on the department’s website.

Import permits:
Current import permits will not be updated to reflect this change, any permit holders intending to import these species will have to apply for a variation to include additional species.

Further information:
Please contact Plant Import Operation on 1800 900 090 or by email at imports@awe.gov.au