Diagnostic Samples

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:

1. the kind of fruit, vegetable or nut (name of commodity); and
2. in the case of prescribed fruit, vegetables or nuts*-
   1. the name and postcode of the city or town nearest to the locality where they were grown, or
   2. an approved code indicating the location of packing or production; and
3. 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.

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 (attachment 1 – MFF and QFF host list), into Victoria is prohibited unless certified that the samples –

1. have been disinfested by-
   1. autoclaving at–
      1. 121°C and 103 kPa for 15 minutes; or
      2. 134°C and 103 kPa for 4 minutes; or
   2. freezing to ‐18°C for 24 hours; or
   3. freezing and transfer under liquid nitrogen at ‐ 196°C; or
   4. freeze drying; or
   5. oven drying to 45°C for 2 hours; and
2. 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
3. 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.

Movement of diagnostic samples

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:

1. 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:
   1. packed in an air-tight container and sealed with packing tape; and
   2. consigned to an accredited facility; or
   3. disinfested prior to consignment by:
      1. autoclaving at
         1. 121℃ and 103kPa for 15 minutes; or
         2. 134℃ and 103kPa for 4 minutes; or
      2. freezing to‐18℃ for 24 hours; or
      3. freezing and transfer under liquid nitrogen at ‐196℃; or
      4. freeze drying; or
      5. oven drying to 45℃ for 2 hours; or
      6. hot water treatment at 54±1℃ for 5 minutes; or
      7. fixing in formalin/acetic acid, 70% ethanol, etc.
2. from an Interstate PIZ or an Interstate PRZ to any place in Victoria is prohibited unless certified that the Diagnostic samples have been:
   1. packed in an air-tight container and sealed with packing tape; and
   2. consigned to an accredited facility; or
   3. disinfested prior to consignment by:
      1. autoclaving at
         1. 121℃ and 103kPa for 15 minutes; or
         2. 134℃ and 103kPa for 4 minutes; or
      2. freezing to‐18℃ for 24 hours; or
      3. freezing and transfer under liquid nitrogen at ‐196℃; or
      4. freeze drying; or
      5. oven drying to 45℃ for 2 hours; or
      6. hot water treatment at 54±1℃ for 5 minutes; or
      7. fixing in formalin/acetic acid, 70% ethanol, etc.

Documentation requirement:

• Condition 1: Permit
• Condition 2: Plant Health Certificate or Plant Health Assurance Certificate

Map of Victorian Phylloxera Zones