1 July 2019
Who does this notice affect?
Importers, approved arrangements, freight forwarders and brokers that deal with imported cut flowers and foliage
What has changed?
Since Australia’s import conditions for fresh cut flowers and foliage changed in March 2018, the number of live pests arriving at the border has remained unacceptably high.
As a result, from 1 September 2019, the department will require the use of import permits to bring shipments of cut flowers and foliage to Australia produced under a systems approach from Kenya, Colombia and Ecuador. Cut flowers and foliage certified as being treated using methyl bromide or an alternative treatment in these countries will not require an import permit.
Importers can apply for permits in our BICON system from 1 July 2019. Submitting your application on or around this date will allow time for us to assess the application and grant a permit for use from 1 September.
Permit applications must include details of how your proposed supply chain management system (SCMS) will reduce pest loads arriving in Australia. The risk controls you propose must not include those already required by the exporting country’s National Plant and Protection Organisation. See our guide to developing a supply chain management system for details of our requirements.
Initial permits will be valid for four months.
Applications for further permits will be subject to a review of the effectiveness of the previous permit conditions in preventing the arrival of live quarantine pests. We may require you to modify your supply chain control measures before granting the permit. We may not issue subsequent permits if non-compliance remains high.
Further information
More information about changes to importing cut flowers and foliage to Australia from 1 September 2019 is available at agriculture.gov.au/cut-flowers
For importing enquiries please phone 1800 900 090 (when prompted press 1 and then 1 again) or email imports@aff.gov.au