Annex
Procedure: Horticultural produce and cut-flower inspection
Effective 1 April 2024 to 20 September 2024Overview of sampling and inspection techniques
Horticultural produce and cut flowers are inspected to verify goods meet Australia’s import conditions. Goods are sampled according to the size of the consignment. The method of inspection depends on the size, texture, shape and potential pest risk of the goods and is designed to assist in detection of pests and diseases and other biosecurity risk material (BRM).
Sampling
The following number of units are randomly selected for inspection.
Units of a single genus of in a consignment |
Sample size |
≥1000 |
600 |
450-999 |
450 |
<450 |
All units |
Inspection method
The table below briefly describes inspection methods and the type of goods the method should be used for.
Inspection method 1A |
Microscope examination |
Inspection method 1B (subject to trial) |
Microscope and some visual examination |
Inspection method 2 |
Visual and microscope examination Used for goods with a smoother texture with some sheltered sites. Visual inspection can be used to detect larger BRM, with microscopy (10x) used for any sheltered sites or smaller BRM. |
Inspection method 3 |
Visual examination and microscope examination of dislodged materials Used for goods with textured surface, sheltered sites or with large surface areas (for example: cut flowers, leafy or bunched vegetables). Brushing/shaking is used to dislodge BRM and debris, which is then examined under microscope magnification (10x) . |
Inspection method 4 |
Visual examination only Used for low-risk goods such as goods with limited sheltered sites and may have undergone pre-export processes to reduce pest presence. |
Note: Visual examination is performed using magnification as required, for example using maggy lamp.
Please refer to the following list for commodity specific inspection methods:
Inspection method 1A |
Inspection method 1B |
Inspection method 2 |
Inspection method 3 |
Inspection method 4 |
-blueberries -kiwiberries |
-cherries -citrus -figs -jujubes -kiwifruit -kiwi gold -mangosteens -salacca (snake fruit) -stonefruit (including apricots, nectarines, peaches and plums) |
-apples -asian pear varieties (including ya pears) -avocado -carrots -cassava -etrogs -feijoa -garlic -ginger -grapes -granadilla -Jewish Festival articles (i.e. palm fronds, myrtle, willow) -kiwano -longans -lychees -mangoes -mushrooms -okra -parsnips -passionfruit -pomegranate -snow peas/sugar snaps -strawberries -taro corms -tomato (non-truss) -truffles -yams |
-asparagus (S) -baby spinach (S) -breadfruit (B) -broccoli or broccolini (S) -cabbage (B) -capsicum (B) -cauliflower (B) -celery (S) -chilli (B) -custard apple (B) -cut flowers (S) -cut foliage - excluding Jewish Festival articles (S) -dragon fruit (B) -garlic shoots (S) -leafy vegetables/ herbs (S) -leeks (S) -onions (B) -persimmons (B) -pineapple (B) -piper betel (Si) -rhubarb (S) -shallots (S) -spinach (S) -tamarillo (B) -tomato (with truss) (B) |
-baby corn -chicory -coconuts - immature -coconuts - mature -dates -durian - semi processed -endive -garlic - semi processed -jackfruit - semi-processed -melons -lettuce - shredded -onions - peeled -pawpaw (papaya) -pineapple - semi processed -pomegranate - semi processed arils -pomelo pulp - chilled -pumpkins |
(S) = shaking, (B) = brushing, (Si) = sieving