Changes

The department has updated the Vaccinium spp. for use as nursery stock BICON case to permit the import of high-health Vaccinium spp. tissue cultures of blueberry from a department approved source. This change has been implemented following a new market access request and completion of a department review.

As a result, the department has recognised the following as an approved source for import of blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) nursery stock in the form of tissue cultures into Australia:

Driscoll's Inc.
242 Corralitos Road
Watsonville, CA 95076 USA

The approved source pathway for import of blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) nursery stock requires a range of measures be undertaken prior to export to meet Australia’s appropriate level of quarantine protection. This includes:

• A complement of agreed production, testing and regulatory oversight systems pre-export
• Six months post-entry quarantine for visual screening prior to release
• Defined sourcing practices for mother plant material from which high health tissue cultures are derived
• Ongoing assurance activities to validate compliance with the department’s requirements.

Import permits:
Current import permits will not be updated to reflect this change, any permit holders intending to import Vaccinium spp. nursery stock under the approved source pathway will need to apply.

Who does this notice affect:
Importers of nursery stock, custom brokers and departmental staff.

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