Condition

Condition 44 - European House Borer

The information within this Import Condition was current as of the date of printing: Wednesday, 15 January 2025.

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 host 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 European house borer may enter Victoria without restriction, otherwise‐

the movement into Victoria of any host material must –

  1. be treated –
    1. with a preservative specific for European house borer, and to a hazard class of H2 or greater as provided in the Australian Timber Preservation Standards (AS/NZS 1604 series); or
    2. by heating so that the core temperature at the product’s greatest thickness, remains at or above 56° C for not less than 30 minutes, where treatment has occurred not more than 21 days prior to the host material’s arrival in Victoria; or
    3. in the case where the cross-section measures less than 20 centimetres, with methyl bromide in accordance with the following table and where treatment has occurred within 21 days prior to the arrival in Victoria; and

    Temperature

    Minimum concentration dosage (g/m3) at:

    Start

    2 hours

    4 hours

    12 hours

    24 hours

    21°C or above

    48

    36

    31

    28

    24

    16°C or above

    56

    42

    36

    32

    28

    10°C or above

    64

    48

    42

    36

    32

  2. in the case of structural pinewood, stored so as to prevent infestation:
    1. in a secure building, which has been inspected and approved by an authorised officer as being suitable for the purpose of excluding European house borer; or
    2. by fully wrapping in plastic film which is not ripped, torn or otherwise damaged; or
  3. in the case of pallets, is sourced from a supplier approved under a scheme administered by Quarantine WA; or
  4. enters Victoria in accordance with a permit issued by Agriculture Victoria. To apply for a permit visit the Plant biosecurity permit page.

'host material' means any pinewood, including pallets, packing materials and structural pinewood, but excluding items made only from reconstituted pinewood, any pinewood products made only of heartwood, any pinewood product less than 4 millimetres thick, or pinewood household articles and furniture imported by or on behalf of a person for the personal use of the person or a member of the persons household (e.g. moving household furniture).

'pinewood' means any wood from trees of the genera Abies (Mill), Picea (Mill), Pinus (L.), Araucaria (Juss) or Pseudotsuga (Carriere).

'structural pinewood' means any pinewood which is part of an existing building or is to be used in the construction of a building.

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


Relevant Hosts / Commodities