Plant biosecurity permit

What is a plant biosecurity permit?

A plant biosecurity permit is a permit issued to a person, that allows that person to

• move regulated materials into or out of declared areas with Victoria, or
• import regulated materials from another state into Victoria.

Regulated materials include at risk plants and plant products, used packaging, agricultural equipment, and earth material.

Do you need a plant biosecurity permit?

You should apply for a plant biosecurity permit if you intend to:

• Import regulated materials into Victoria
• Move phylloxera host materials into or from a Phylloxera Control Area
• Remove Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) host Material Movement from a PCN Control Area
• Move Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) host material into the Greater Sunraysia Pest Free Area for Packing or Processing.

Before you start a permit application

It is important to understand that:

• All permit applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Agriculture Victoria may refuse to grant a permit if the biosecurity risks associated with the proposed movements are deemed too high and cannot be managed with reasonable treatments and systems.
• All plant biosecurity permits are only valid for a specified period specified on the permit. It is your responsibility to ensure you have a valid permit before movement of regulated materials.
• Plant Biosecurity Permit are non-transferable.
• Agriculture Victoria may revoke or vary a permit at any time by notice in writing to the permit holder.
• A maximum penalty of 60 penalty units for a natural person and 300 penalty units for a body corporate may apply if the permit holder fails to comply with the permit conditions.
• There is no application fee for applying a plant biosecurity permit. However, Agriculture Victoria may charge a fee for compliance inspections associated with the permit conditions.

Permit assessment time

It is important to understand that Agriculture Victoria will require a reasonable time to assess your permit application. Generally, Agriculture Victoria will acknowledge the receival of your application within 5 business days.

Providing accurate information

As a permit applicant, you must sign a declaration that all information provided with your application are true and correct.

False or misleading information in your application may result in the permit being revoked.

Plant biosecurity permit types

There are four permit types:

• Permit for importation into Victoria of prohibited or restricted host materials
• Permit for host material movement into or from a Phylloxera Control Area
• Permit for host material movement from a Potato Cyst Nematode Control Area
• Permit for Queensland fruit fly host material movement into the Greater Sunraysia Pest Free Area

Permit for importation into Victoria of prohibited or restricted host materials

A person wanting to import regulated host materials from another state into Victoria for which the current import conditions cannot be met (see Online Plant Quarantine Manual) must apply for, and be granted with an Importation Permit before movement.

Download:

• Permit for importation into Victoria of prohibited or restricted host materials (PDF - 242.9 KB)
• Permit for importation into Victoria of prohibited or restricted host materials - accessible version (WORD - 78.3 KB)

Permit for host material movement into or from a Phylloxera Control Area

A person wanting to move Phylloxera host material, including any host plant (meaning plant and plant products of the genus Vitis), earth material, package or used equipment associated with the cultivation, harvesting, handling, transport or processing of host plants into a Phylloxera Exclusion Zone or from a Phylloxera Infested Zone control area (Phylloxera management zones),, must apply for, and be granted with a Phylloxera Movement Permit

To find out when a permit is required refer to the Compliance and Movement conditions page.

Download:

• Permit for host material movement into or from a Phylloxera Control Area (PDF - 213.4 KB)
• Permit for host material movement into or from a Phylloxera Control Area - accessible version (WORD - 72.9 KB)

Permit for host material movement from a Potato Cyst Nematode control area

A person wanting to move potato cyst nematode (PCN) host material from the PCN Control Area, must apply for and be granted with a PCN Movement permit.

Download:

• Permit for host material movement from a Potato Cyst Nematode control area(PDF - 243.6 KB)
• Permit for host material movement from a Potato Cyst Nematode control area - accessible version (WORD - 72.5 KB)

Permit for Queensland fruit fly host material movement into the Greater Sunraysia pest free area

A person wanting to move Queensland fruit fly (QFF) host material into the Greater Sunraysia Pest Free Area (Queensland Fruit Fly surveillance in Greater Sunraysia), must apply for, and be granted with a Restricted Area Movement Permit.

Download:

• Permit for Queensland fruit fly host material movement into the Greater Sunraysia pest free area (PDF - 284.2 KB)
• Permit for Queensland fruit fly host material movement into the Greater Sunraysia pest free area - accessible version (WORD - 91.4 KB)

Further information

For more information please contact our Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or email market.access@agriculture.vic.gov.au