Condition 13A - Mediterranean Fruit Fly: Mature green

Any banana or tomato 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 Mediterranean fruit fly may enter Victoria without restrictions, otherwise-

the entry or importation of bananas or tomatoes into Victoria is prohibited unless certified that:

1. in the case of bananas –
   1. be harvested and packed in a mature green condition, where “mature green condition” means –
      1. the flesh is hard and not flexible, and
      2. the skin is green and shows no yellow colouration except for areas towards the flower end of the fruit where the sun has bleached the skin, but the flesh beneath is still hard; and
      3. the skin has no pre-harvest cracks, splits, punctures or other breaks that penetrate through to the flesh; and
2. in the case of tomatoes –
   1. be harvested and packed in a mature green condition, where “mature green condition” means the fruit has no more than a 2 cm diameter area of pink to red colour at the stylar end at the time of colour sorting after harvest; and
3. be stored and transported in ‘secure conditions’ which prevent infestation by fruit fly, where
   1. “secure conditions” includes –
      1. unvented packages; or
      2. vented packages with the vents secured with gauze/mesh with a maximum aperture of 1.6 mm; or
      3. vented packages enclosing a liner bag or liner sheets that obscure vent holes; or
      4. fully enclosed under tarpaulins, hessian, shade cloth, mesh or other covering which provides a maximum aperture of 1.6 mm;
      5. shrink‐wrapped and sealed as a palletised unit; or
      6. fully enclosed or screened buildings, cold rooms, vehicles or other facilities free from gaps or other entry points greater than 1.6 mm; or
      7. in a manner compliant with specifications Guideline: Maintenance of phytosanitary security for horticulture exports found at https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/export/controlled-goods/plants-plant-products/plantexportsmanual#phytosanitary-security, 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 under ICA-15 for tomatoes and ICA-16 for bananas, 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 segregated from other stock and not repacked, sold or otherwise disposed of, until the whole consignment is –

(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.