Changes

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) has completed a Weed Risk Assessment for the species Rabdosia effusa and its accepted name Isodon effusus. The assessment has determined these species are permitted as they pose a low weed risk to Australia.

As a result, Rabdosia effusa and Isodon effusus have been added to the ‘Xylella fastidiosa hosts for use as nursery stock’ BICON case. These species may be permitted entry into Australian territory as nursery stock subject to the import conditions of this case.

No other changes have been made to import conditions within the above BICON case.

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 webpage.

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 these additional species.

Who does this notice affect:
Importers (and their customs brokers) of these species for an end use of nursery stock and departmental staff.

Further information:
Contact Plant Import Operations at imports@aff.gov.au or phone 1800 900 090.