Changes

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has amended the import conditions for Corylus spp. nursery stock, following a review to ensure they are current and best able to protect Australian agriculture from new and emerging plant pests and diseases.

The removal of open quarantine requirements for imported budwood and cuttings to ensure that plants undergo screening and testing within a closed quarantine environment has been updated.

The minimum quarantine period for disease screening and testing at the Commonwealth post-entry quarantine (PEQ) facility at Mickleham, Victoria remains unchanged, i.e. minimum 16 months for dormant cuttings or budwood, or minimum 12 months for tissue cultured plantlets.

Who does this notice affect:
Importers of Corylus spp. nursery stock, brokers, and department staff.

Background:
The department is reviewing the post-entry quarantine conditions for several high-risk nursery stock genera. These plants are economically significant and/or carry significant pests or pathogens and are currently required to undergo disease screening at the Commonwealth’s PEQ facility.

This work is funded through the Accelerating Horticulture Market Access (AHMA) program established under the ‘Enhancing Australia’s Agriculture’s Trade’ measure within the Australian government’s 2019-20 budget. AHMA supports the further development of an internationally competitive and profitable horticulture sector.

Further information:
Please contact Plant Import Operations on 1800 900 090 or by email imports@awe.gov.au (please title the subject line of the email with ‘Plant T2 – Corylus nursery stock).