1 February 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 is an update to the Industry Advice Notice “01-2019-Clearance of fresh cut flowers and foliage consignments on the Australia Day long weekend and Valentine's Day” published on 7 January 2019.
Over the weekends in the lead up to Valentine’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 only:
- 2nd February 2019 – 3rd February 2019
- 9th February 2019 – 10th February 2019.
This arrangement includes consignments inspected on Friday afternoon 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 following consignments of fresh cut flowers and foliage are excluded from the above arrangements, and must 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.