22 March 2019
Who does this notice affect?
Industry stakeholders including importers, approved arrangements, freight forwarders and brokers that deal with imported cut flowers and foliage.
What has changed?
This Industry Advice Notice updates the previous IAN 35-2019 – Clearance of fresh cut flowers and foliage consignments on long weekends and the lead up to Mother’s Day 2019’. Fumigation arrangements originally proposed for long weekends beyond Mother’s Day have been removed. Future arrangements beyond Mother’s Day will be advised on a needs basis and published accordingly.
Over the long weekends, and in the lead up to Mother’s Day, consignments of fresh cut flowers and foliage found to be infested with live insect pests can have the option to be directed for onshore fumigation and release prior to pest identification by an entomologist. This arrangement is applicable on the following days and states only:
- Easter long weekend
- All States
- 19 April 2019 – 22 April 2019
- Labour Day
- Queensland only
- 4 May 2019 – 6 May 2019
- Mother’s day
- All States
- 4 May 2019 – 5 May 2019
- 11 May 2019 – 12 May 2019
This arrangement includes consignments inspected on the afternoon prior to the long weekend or on the Friday in the two weekends leading up to Mother’s Day where samples cannot be identified before close of business (i.e. samples delivered to the laboratory after 3:30 pm).
To assist the department in managing resource demand during this peak period, clients are encouraged to make an inspection booking request through the normal channels for each consignment as soon as practicable.
Exclusions
The department reminds importers that the following consignments of fresh cut flowers and foliage are excluded from the above arrangements, and will not be directed for fumigation prior to identification by an entomologist and/or pathologist:
- Any consignment with snails or slugs.
- Any consignment with fly pupae and/or larvae associated with leaves with leaf mining symptoms.
- Any consignment with disease symptoms.
Further information
Enquiries regarding the Clearance of Fresh Cut Flowers and Foliage consignments on the upcoming public holidays can be directed by email to Plant Import Operations. Please include “Clearance of Fresh Cut Flowers and Foliage consignments on public holidays” in the subject line or call on 1800 900 090