Diagnostic Samples
The information within this Import Condition was current as of the date of printing: Tuesday, 5 November 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.
Relevant Pests / Diseases
- MFF - Mediterranean Fruit Fly
- PHY - Grape Phylloxera
Conditions
Condition 0 - Verification, Packaging and Labelling
General Procedures
Specific plants, plant products and other pest and disease host materials are prohibited entry into Victoria unless accompanied by a Plant Health Certificate (PHC) or Plant Health Assurance Certificate (PHAC) certifying compliance with relevant conditions of entry (see individual conditions). Commodities, which are not prohibited and are hosts of a specified pest or disease may enter Victoria without certification in relation to that pest or disease if sourced from an area of another state or territory covered by an area freedom certificate.
Area Freedom
Unless prohibited any host material, agricultural equipment or used package may enter any part of Victoria without restriction if an Area Freedom Certificate certifying that the State or Territory, or any part of the State or Territory where the host material, agricultural equipment or used package was grown, packed, sourced or last used, is known to be free from a specified pest or disease.
Note: Any notification or advice of an outbreak of a pest or disease is taken to be an amendment to the relevant Area Freedom Certificate. In these cases, host material may no longer be accepted under area freedom.
Verification
An importer may be required to present host commodities and accompanying certification for verification by an inspector or a person accredited by the department to verify the material and certification.
Packaging
Packages of all fruit, vegetables or nuts must be clean to touch and free of extraneous visible matter and objectionable odour and in good repair.
Labelling
Packages containing any fruit, vegetable or nut must be legibly marked with the following:
- the kind of fruit, vegetable or nut (name of commodity); and
- in the case of prescribed fruit, vegetables or nuts*-
- the name and postcode of the city or town nearest to the locality where they were grown, or
- an approved code indicating the location of packing or production; and
- in the case of a commodity certified under an accreditation (e.g. ICA Scheme), information as required by the specific Procedure.
*details of prescribed fruit, vegetables and nuts are provided in the Plant Biosecurity Regulations 2016.
Condition 19A - Mediterranean Fruit Fly: Diagnostic samples
Any diagnostic samples 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 restriction, otherwise-
the entry or importation of diagnostic samples of Mediterranean fruit fly host produce (MFF host list), into Victoria is prohibited unless certified that the samples –
- have been disinfested by-
- autoclaving at–
- 121°C and 103 kPa for 15 minutes; or
- 134°C and 103 kPa for 4 minutes; or
- freezing to ‐18°C for 24 hours; or
- freezing and transfer under liquid nitrogen at ‐ 196°C; or
- freeze drying; or
- oven drying to 45°C for 2 hours; and
- autoclaving at–
- be stored and transported in ‘secure conditions’ which prevent infestation by fruit fly, where
- “secure conditions” includes‐
- unvented packages; or
- vented packages with the vents secured with gauze/mesh with a maximum aperture of 1.6 mm; or
- vented packages enclosing a liner bag or liner sheets that obscure vent holes; or
- fully enclosed under tarpaulins, hessian, shade cloth, mesh or other covering which provides a maximum aperture of 1.6 mm;
- shrink‐wrapped and sealed as a palletised unit; or
- fully enclosed or screened buildings, cold rooms, vehicles or other facilities free from gaps or other entry points greater than 1.6 mm; or
- 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
- “secure conditions” includes‐
- 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 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.
Condition 25F - Grape Phylloxera: Diagnostic samples
Movement of diagnostic samples
Diagnostic samples | To a PIZ | To a PRZ | To a PEZ |
---|---|---|---|
From a Victorian PIZ | Condition 25F (1) | Condition 25F (1) | Condition 25F (1) |
From an Interstate PIZ | Condition 25F (2) | Condition 25F (2) | Condition 25F (2) |
From a Victorian PRZ | No restriction | No restriction | Condition 25F (1) |
From an interstate PRZ | Condition 25F (2) | Condition 25F (2) | Condition 25F (2) |
From a PEZ | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction |
From Area Free | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction |
Definitions
- Phylloxera Exclusion Zones (PEZ) means a part of the state that has completed a recognised surveillance program to determine the region is free of phylloxera and is identified under a control order for the purpose of preventing the entry of grape phylloxera into area and has an Area Freedom Certificate issued by the Chief Plant Health Officer of the state.
- Phylloxera Infested Zones (PIZ) means a part of the state where phylloxera is known to be present. Restrictions are in place to prevent the spread of phylloxera from the area.
- Phylloxera Risk Zone (PRZ) means a part of the state where Phylloxera has not been detected and has not been through a recognised surveillance program.
The movement of Diagnostic samples:
- from an area certified as known to be free of Phylloxera to any place in Victoria; or
- from a PEZ to any place in Victoria; or
- from a Victorian PRZ within the PRZ or into a Victorian PIZ;
may move without restriction, otherwise the movement of Diagnostic samples:
- from a Victorian PIZ to any place, or a Victorian PRZ to any place within a PEZ is prohibited unless certified that the Diagnostic samples have been:
- packed in an air-tight container and sealed with packing tape; and
- consigned to an accredited facility; or
- disinfested prior to consignment by:
- autoclaving at
- 121℃ and 103kPa for 15 minutes; or
- 134℃ and 103kPa for 4 minutes; or
- freezing to‐18℃ for 24 hours; or
- freezing and transfer under liquid nitrogen at ‐196℃; or
- freeze drying; or
- oven drying to 45℃ for 2 hours; or
- hot water treatment at 54±1℃ for 5 minutes; or
- fixing in formalin/acetic acid, 70% ethanol, etc.
- autoclaving at
- from an Interstate PIZ or an Interstate PRZ to any place in Victoria is prohibited unless certified that the Diagnostic samples have been:
- packed in an air-tight container and sealed with packing tape; and
- consigned to an accredited facility; or
- disinfested prior to consignment by:
- autoclaving at
- 121℃ and 103kPa for 15 minutes; or
- 134℃ and 103kPa for 4 minutes; or
- freezing to‐18℃ for 24 hours; or
- freezing and transfer under liquid nitrogen at ‐196℃; or
- freeze drying; or
- oven drying to 45℃ for 2 hours; or
- hot water treatment at 54±1℃ for 5 minutes; or
- fixing in formalin/acetic acid, 70% ethanol, etc.
- autoclaving at
Documentation requirement:
- Condition 1: Permit
- Condition 2: Plant Health Certificate or Plant Health Assurance Certificate
Condition 0 - Verification, Packaging and Labelling
General Procedures
Specific plants, plant products and other pest and disease host materials are prohibited entry into Victoria unless accompanied by a Plant Health Certificate (PHC) or Plant Health Assurance Certificate (PHAC) certifying compliance with relevant conditions of entry (see individual conditions). Commodities, which are not prohibited and are hosts of a specified pest or disease may enter Victoria without certification in relation to that pest or disease if sourced from an area of another state or territory covered by an area freedom certificate.
Area Freedom
Unless prohibited any host material, agricultural equipment or used package may enter any part of Victoria without restriction if an Area Freedom Certificate certifying that the State or Territory, or any part of the State or Territory where the host material, agricultural equipment or used package was grown, packed, sourced or last used, is known to be free from a specified pest or disease.
Note: Any notification or advice of an outbreak of a pest or disease is taken to be an amendment to the relevant Area Freedom Certificate. In these cases, host material may no longer be accepted under area freedom.
Verification
An importer may be required to present host commodities and accompanying certification for verification by an inspector or a person accredited by the department to verify the material and certification.
Packaging
Packages of all fruit, vegetables or nuts must be clean to touch and free of extraneous visible matter and objectionable odour and in good repair.
Labelling
Packages containing any fruit, vegetable or nut must be legibly marked with the following:
- the kind of fruit, vegetable or nut (name of commodity); and
- in the case of prescribed fruit, vegetables or nuts*-
- the name and postcode of the city or town nearest to the locality where they were grown, or
- an approved code indicating the location of packing or production; and
- in the case of a commodity certified under an accreditation (e.g. ICA Scheme), information as required by the specific Procedure.
*details of prescribed fruit, vegetables and nuts are provided in the Plant Biosecurity Regulations 2016.
Condition 25F - Grape Phylloxera: Diagnostic samples
Movement of diagnostic samples
Diagnostic samples | To a PIZ | To a PRZ | To a PEZ |
---|---|---|---|
From a Victorian PIZ | Condition 25F (1) | Condition 25F (1) | Condition 25F (1) |
From an Interstate PIZ | Condition 25F (2) | Condition 25F (2) | Condition 25F (2) |
From a Victorian PRZ | No restriction | No restriction | Condition 25F (1) |
From an interstate PRZ | Condition 25F (2) | Condition 25F (2) | Condition 25F (2) |
From a PEZ | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction |
From Area Free | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction |
Definitions
- Phylloxera Exclusion Zones (PEZ) means a part of the state that has completed a recognised surveillance program to determine the region is free of phylloxera and is identified under a control order for the purpose of preventing the entry of grape phylloxera into area and has an Area Freedom Certificate issued by the Chief Plant Health Officer of the state.
- Phylloxera Infested Zones (PIZ) means a part of the state where phylloxera is known to be present. Restrictions are in place to prevent the spread of phylloxera from the area.
- Phylloxera Risk Zone (PRZ) means a part of the state where Phylloxera has not been detected and has not been through a recognised surveillance program.
The movement of Diagnostic samples:
- from an area certified as known to be free of Phylloxera to any place in Victoria; or
- from a PEZ to any place in Victoria; or
- from a Victorian PRZ within the PRZ or into a Victorian PIZ;
may move without restriction, otherwise the movement of Diagnostic samples:
- from a Victorian PIZ to any place, or a Victorian PRZ to any place within a PEZ is prohibited unless certified that the Diagnostic samples have been:
- packed in an air-tight container and sealed with packing tape; and
- consigned to an accredited facility; or
- disinfested prior to consignment by:
- autoclaving at
- 121℃ and 103kPa for 15 minutes; or
- 134℃ and 103kPa for 4 minutes; or
- freezing to‐18℃ for 24 hours; or
- freezing and transfer under liquid nitrogen at ‐196℃; or
- freeze drying; or
- oven drying to 45℃ for 2 hours; or
- hot water treatment at 54±1℃ for 5 minutes; or
- fixing in formalin/acetic acid, 70% ethanol, etc.
- autoclaving at
- from an Interstate PIZ or an Interstate PRZ to any place in Victoria is prohibited unless certified that the Diagnostic samples have been:
- packed in an air-tight container and sealed with packing tape; and
- consigned to an accredited facility; or
- disinfested prior to consignment by:
- autoclaving at
- 121℃ and 103kPa for 15 minutes; or
- 134℃ and 103kPa for 4 minutes; or
- freezing to‐18℃ for 24 hours; or
- freezing and transfer under liquid nitrogen at ‐196℃; or
- freeze drying; or
- oven drying to 45℃ for 2 hours; or
- hot water treatment at 54±1℃ for 5 minutes; or
- fixing in formalin/acetic acid, 70% ethanol, etc.
- autoclaving at
Documentation requirement:
- Condition 1: Permit
- Condition 2: Plant Health Certificate or Plant Health Assurance Certificate
Condition 25K - Grape Phylloxera: Earth material
The movement of Earth Material from an area certified as known to be free of Phylloxera to any place in Victoria; or from a PEZ to any place in Victoria; or from a Victoria PRZ into a PRZ or PIZ may move without restriction, otherwise –
the movement of earth material, that has been associated with the cultivation/growing of Vitis (grapevines), into Victoria is prohibited unless the earth material is imported for the purposes of diagnostic samples – see condition 25F.
Documentation requirement: Prohibited.