Condition

Condition 36E - Fire Ant: Hay and straw

The information within this Import Condition was current as of the date of printing: Wednesday, 3 July 2024.

New entry conditions or amendments may be implemented from time to time and are uploaded into the Plant Quarantine Manual.

It is recommended that you regularly check the http://www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/pqm website for the most up to date import conditions.

Any material originating from an area covered by an Area Freedom Certificate declaring that the area from which the host material originated is known to be free of red imported fire ants (RIFA) may enter Victoria without restriction, otherwise‐

the movement into Victoria of any hay or straw is prohibited unless:

  1. consigned from a property which has been regularly inspected and found to be free of fire ants; or is subject to control methods to prevent the establishment or spread of fire ants; and
  2. the host material was –
    1. treated by:
      1. fumigation with a product containing 1000 g/kg methyl bromide at a rate of 48 g/m3 at 21°C for at least 24 hours, and
      2. stored, handled and consigned after treatment so as to prevent infestation with fire ants, and
      3. inspected and found to be dry and free of earth material and fire ants, and
      4. dispatched within 28 days of treatment; or
    2. processed by hammer milling where ‐
      1. the property has been inspected not less than seven days prior to consignment and found free of fire ant, and
      2. the material is –
        A. passed through a mesh of not more than 50 mm in size, and
        B. passed over a mesh of not more than 3 mm in size to remove small particulates, and
        C. immediately bagged into vacuum-sealed bags; and
        D. inspected at the rate of 1 in 50 bags to ensure they are properly sealed; and,
  3. a copy of the certification is forwarded to Agriculture Victoria at market.access@agriculture.vic.gov.au prior to despatch of the material; or
  4. enters Victoria in accordance with a permit issued by Agriculture Victoria. To apply for a permit visit the Plant biosecurity permit page.

Documentation requirement: PHC, PHAC, Plant Health Declaration or Permit.

Verification Requirement:

Host material imported into Victoria which is required by to be accompanied by a certificate or declaration, must be –

(a) presented to an Inspector for inspection; or

(b) verified by a person accredited to do so by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.

Relevant Hosts / Commodities