Changes

The department has completed a Weed Risk Assessment for Hoya cutis-porcelana and Hoya platycaulis. As a result, Hoya cutis-porcelana and Hoya platycaulis have been added as permitted species to the BICON case ‘Xylella fastidiosa hosts for use as nursery stock’.

Who does this notice affect:

Importers of Hoya cutis-porcelana and Hoya platycaulis for an end use of nursery stock (and their customs brokers), Assessment Services Group and Inspections Group.

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 that are not currently 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 or a new permit to include these additional species.

Further information:

Please contact Plant Import Operations on 1800 900 090 or email imports@agriculture.gov.au.