Compliance and movement conditions for RIFA host materials

Understanding restricted movement

Some materials, like soil and hay, can carry red imported fire ants (RIFA; Solenopsis invicta). If these materials are moved over long distances, they could accidentally spread RIFA. If your activities involve the movement of material that may harbour RIFA, you have the obligation to take all reasonable steps to ensure that you do not spread RIFA.

RIFA host materials are not allowed to move freely into any part of Victoria from RIFA quarantine zones or RIFA movement control zones. Both quarantine and movement control zones include 5 km around all known RIFA detections. All persons and businesses must comply with Victoria’s entry conditions when moving RIFA host material from these zones into the state.

  • Quarantine zones include RIFA-infested areas in south-east Queensland and NSW’s Cobaki/Piggabeen region. These zones are based on the Interstate Plant Quarantine Zone map that is updated monthly by the Queensland Government.
  • Movement control zones include areas in Murwillumbah and Wardell. These zones are based on the Map of infestation published by the NSW Government.

List of RIFA host materials

Restricted movement requirements

Any movement of RIFA host material into Victoria needs to be notified to Agriculture Victoria through the online platform Agriculture Victoria Connect. RIFA host material coming from RIFA quarantine/movement control zones can only enter Victoria if the following conditions are met.

Interstate exporters or persons

RIFA host material must be shipped from a property that meets one of these 2 conditions:

  • It has been inspected regularly and found to be free of fire ants.
  • It has applied approved methods to stop fire ants from spreading or becoming established.

The shipment must also include one of the following certificates to show it has been treated correctly and meets Victoria's import requirements:

  • Plant health certificate (PHC) stating the treatment meets Condition 36 of the Victorian Plant Quarantine Manual
  • Plant health assurance certificate (PHAC) stating it ‘meets ICA-39’ and including the treatment details
  • Biosecure HACCP biosecurity certificate (BHBC) showing the treatment follows one of these approved procedures:
    • ECCPRIFA21
    • ECCPRIFA25
    • ECCPRIFA26
    • ECCPRIFA28

Before the material is sent, a plant consignment notification must also be submitted through Agriculture Victoria Connect.

Victorian importers

When an interstate exporter notifies Agriculture Victoria it is shipping RIFA host material into Victoria, the Victorian importer will receive an email notification.

If your business receives RIFA host material from a RIFA quarantine/movement control zone, you must do one of the following:

Option 1

Arrange verification: Request a plant consignment verification through Agriculture Victoria Connect. An Agriculture Victoria biosecurity officer will inspect the shipment when it arrives (fees apply).

Option 2

Be accredited: Be approved under a compliance agreement CA-17 and make sure every shipment is accompanied by one of the following:

  • PHAC stating it ‘meets ICA-39’ and including the treatment details
  • PHC stating the treatment meets Condition 36 of the Victorian Plant Quarantine Manual
  • BHBC showing compliance with one of these approved procedures:
    • ECCPRIFA21
    • ECCPRIFA25
    • ECCPRIFA26
    • ECCPRIFA28

If these requirements have not been met, please contact your local Agriculture Victoria biosecurity officer on 1800 878 962 for guidance.

Movement requirements if transiting through Victoria into another state

RIFA host material transiting through Victoria into another state and coming from RIFA quarantine/movement control zones does not need to be verified only if the plant consignment is not opened or split in Victoria and if the method of transport remains unchanged.

If the shipment of RIFA host material is opened or split in Victoria or the method of transport changes, the restricted movement requirements apply and the Victorian importer needs to be approved under an interstate certification assurance ICA-17.

Further information

For more information about compliance and movement conditions for RIFA host materials, please email market.access@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

For assistance using Agriculture Victoria Connect, call the Biosecurity Services Centre on 1800 403 224 (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm).

Page last updated: 21 Aug 2026