Moving plants and plant products

To minimise the spread of pests and diseases into Victoria's major crop production areas, there are restrictions on the movement of certain materials (such as some plants, plant products, used packaging, agricultural equipment and soil). Restrictions may apply to materials which are moved into or out of declared areas within Victoria, or to the importation of material from another state.

These restrictions are supported by Victorian Government plant biosecurity legislation.

There are also controls on the interstate export of prescribed materials, as each state and territory has its own requirements which must be met. 

Benefits from restrictions on the movement of plant products, together with pest control and eradication, include:

• greater access to national and international markets for farmers
• reduced processing costs of fresh fruit and vegetables
• reduced use of some chemical treatments.

For more details see:

• Movement within Victoria
• Importing into Victoria
• Exporting from Victoria

Market access services

The department provides a range of services to facilitate market access in line with state and national quarantine requirements.

For more details see:

• Industry notices regarding the movement of plants and plant products
• Fees and charges for Plant Operations services

The department has streamlined the process for requesting Plant Health Certificates (PHC) to be an online process.

To request a PHC for movement of plants and plant products proceed to the online form.

Once you have entered the PHC details follow the prompts and contact your nearest office to arrange an inspection and collection of your PHC.

Information on specific pests 

• Queensland fruit fly
• Potato cyst nematode
• Chestnut blight
• Myrtle rust
• Viticulture biosecurity
• Blueberry rust
• Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid (PDF - 60.2 KB) or (WORD - 21.0 KB)

Non-commercial interstate movement

For private (non-commercial) interstate travellers, the Traveller's Guide to Australian Interstate Quarantine provides an overview of movement restrictions.

Related sites

• Domestic quarantine and market access - domestic interstate market access conditions
• Department of Agriculture - international movement of plants and plant products
• Plant Health Australia
• National pest and disease outbreaks

Further information

For more details about moving plants or plant products, contact a Plant Standards Officer on 136 186 or email plant.standards@ecodev.vic.gov.au.

If you notice any unusual pest or disease symptoms on your plants, call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on Freecall 1800 084 881, Australia-wide.