30 October 2017
Who does this notice affect?
Industry stakeholders including importers, approved arrangements, freight forwarders and brokers that deal with imported cut flowers and foliage
Purpose
To provide an update on the implementation of new import conditions for fresh cut flowers and foliage.
Background
The department will be implementing a mandatory requirement that all consignments of cut flowers and foliage imported into Australia are free of quarantine pests and that this is endorsed on a phytosanitary certificate from the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of the exporting country. Pest freedom will be able to be achieved through either offshore treatment or through the use of a systems approach (a combination of pest control measures in production, transport and packing areas). Cut flowers and foliage will need to come in insect proof cartons, and any cut flowers and foliage that are propagatable will still need to be dipped in herbicide to prevent growth.
What is changing?
The department has delayed implementation of the new import conditions for fresh cut flowers and foliage to 1 March 2018 to allow NPPOs, exporters and importers sufficient time to transition to the new conditions.
The department will continue to accept consignments under current import conditions during the transition to the new measures, which will run from 1 November 2017 to 28 February 2018.
In preparation for the commencement of the new conditions on 1 March 2018, the department will exempt consignments from the mandatory onshore fumigation if they are treated prior to export or are produced under an NPPO approved systems approach.
Details of pre-shipment treatment(s) must be provided on a treatment certificate or phytosanitary certificate.
Consignments produced under a systems approach must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with the relevant additional declaration.
Updated import conditions to support the transition arrangements will be published in BICON on 1 November 2017.
Further information
Further information about the new import conditions can be found on the department's website.
Enquiries regarding the revised changes to import conditions and their implementation can be directed by email to Plant Import Operations. Please include “Changes to cut flower import conditions” in the subject line.