Packages

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 used packages that has contained Mediterranean fruit fly host material and 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 used packages into Victoria is prohibited unless certified that they have been:

1. brushed or washed to remove all visible organic matter; or
2. 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.

Any agricultural equipment, or used package 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 Annual Ryegrass Toxicity may enter Victoria without restriction, otherwise-

the entry or importation into Victoria of agricultural equipment used in the growing or transportation of host material including any cereal grain, Lucerne hay (except second or subsequent cut of the season), pasture hay, stock feed or plant waste, or package that has contained any of the above, is prohibited unless certified that:

1. in the case of equipment,
   1. cleaned free of plant material and visible soil by-
      1. brushing; or
      2. high pressure water; or
      3. steam; and
   2. inspected and found free of soil and organic matter.
2. in the case of packages, disinfected by dipping or spray rinsing for one minute with-
   1. a solution of phenolic disinfectant (e.g. Biogram or Phensol) followed by rinsing with water; or
   2. a solution of at least 50 ppm available chlorine, where the pH is maintained between 6.5 to 7.0; 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.

Any used package 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 from green snail may enter Victoria without restriction, otherwise –

the entry of any used package which has contained host plant is prohibited unless:

1. the package has been:
   1. cleaned free of organic matter and earth material; and
   2. inspected and found free of green snail; or
2. 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 host plant and any used package which has contained any host plants.

‘host plant' means any plant or plant product, including any leafy vegetable, cutting, potted plant, turf, bare rooted plant, mature tree, cut flower, foliage, hay, or fodder but excluding fruit, plants in tissue culture and seeds.

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

Any agricultural equipment used in growing, harvesting, processing or transport of any plant of the genus Allium; and any packaging which has contained any plant of the genus Allium originating in an area covered by an Area Freedom Certificate declaring that the area from which the host material originated is known to be free of onion smut may enter Victoria without restriction, otherwise‐

the entry or importation into Victoria of any agricultural equipment used in growing, harvesting, processing or transport of any plant of the genus Allium; and any packaging which has contained any plant of the genus Allium must be:

1. cleaned free of earth material and organic matter by:
   1. high pressure water; or
   2. steam; and
2. disinfected with a solution containing not less than 100 ppm available chlorine, used as a spray rinse and allowed to dry without rinsing; 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.

Movement of agricultural equipment and packages

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 Agricultural equipment and packages:

• 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 Agricultural equipment and packages:

1. from a Victorian PIZ to any place, or a Victorian PRZ to any place within a PEZ is prohibited unless certified that the agricultural equipment and packages have been:
   1. thoroughly cleaned with a steam cleaner or high-pressure hot water to remove all soil and plant debris; and
   2. in the case of equipment (other than mechanical harvesters) and used packages, disinfested by:
      1. steam applied at a temperature above 100℃, as measured at the steam outlet; or
      2. immersion in hot water (>70℃) for at least 2 minutes at temperature; or
      3. dry heat:
         1. place in a suitable room, shed or container that can be heated up to the required temperature; and
         2. apply temperature probes to the agricultural equipment and packages, and measure the surface temperature and preferably some deeper parts of the equipment/packages; and
         3. heat up the room until the probes indicate that the required temperature has been reached; and
         4. hold in the room:
            • for at least 90 minutes at a temperature of 45℃; or
            • for at least 180 minutes at a temperature of 40℃;
   3. in the case of mechanical harvesters, disinfestation by dry heat [1.b(iii)] is compulsory; and
   4. in the case of barrels and mobile bottling plants, cleaned free of soil and organic matter.
2. from an Interstate PIZ or an Interstate PRZ to any place in Victoria is prohibited unless certified that the agricultural equipment and packages have been:
   1. thoroughly cleaned with a steam cleaner or high-pressure hot water to remove all soil and plant debris; and
   2. in the case of equipment (other than mechanical harvesters) and used packages, disinfested by:
      1. steam applied at a temperature above 100℃, as measured at the steam outlet; or
      2. immersion in hot water (>70℃) for at least 2 minutes at temperature; or
      3. dry heat:
         1. place in a suitable room, shed or container that can be heated up to the required temperature; and
         2. apply temperature probes to the agricultural equipment and packages, and measure the surface temperature and preferably some deeper parts of the equipment/packages; and
         3. heat up the room until the probes indicate that the required temperature has been reached; and
         4. hold in the room:
            • for at least 90 minutes at a temperature of 45℃; or
            • for at least 180 minutes at a temperature of 40℃;
   3. in the case of mechanical harvesters, disinfestation by dry heat [2.b(iii)] is compulsory; and
   4. in the case of barrels and mobile bottling plants, cleaned free of soil and organic matter.

Documentation requirement:

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

Map of Victorian Phylloxera Zones

Any agricultural equipment or package 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 from lupin anthracnose may enter Victoria without restriction, otherwise–

the entry or importation into Victoria of agricultural equipment used for the cultivation, harvesting, packing, processing or transportation of any plant or plant product of Lupinus species or package that has contained any plant or plant product of Lupinus species is prohibited unless:

1. it has been cleaned free of earth material and organic matter; by
   (a) brushing; or
   (b) high pressure water; or
   (c) steam; and
2. inspected and found free of earth material and organic matter; 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.

Any agricultural equipment or used package originating from an area covered by an Area Freedom Certificate declaring area freedom from asparagus stem blight may enter Victoria without restriction, otherwise-

the entry into Victoria of any agricultural equipment which has been used in the cultivation, harvesting, packing, processing or transport of any plant or plant product of the genus Asparagus, or any package which has contained any plant or plant product of the genus Asparagus is prohibited, unless:

1. in the case of agricultural equipment used in the cultivation, harvesting or transport of host plant, must be –
   1. cleaned free of earth material and organic matter by-
      1. brushing; or
      2. high pressure water; or
      3. steam; and
   2. inspected and found free of earth material and organic matter; or
   3. enters Victoria in accordance with a permit issued by Agriculture Victoria. To apply for a permit visit Plant biosecurity permit.
2. in the case of packages, must be -
   1. cleaned free of earth material and organic matter by-
      1. brushing; or
      2. high pressure water; or
      3. steam; and
   2. disinfected by dipping or spray rinsing for at least one minute with
      1. a solution of phenolic disinfectant (eg. Biogram or Phensol) followed by rinsing with water; or
      2. a solution of at least 50 ppm available chlorine, where the pH is maintained between 6.5 to 7.0; and
   3. inspected and found free of earth material and organic matter; or
   4. enters Victoria in accordance with a permit issued by Agriculture Victoria. To apply for a permit visit Plant biosecurity permit.

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

Any equipment or used package 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 agricultural equipment or used package which has contained any plant, plant product or host material is prohibited unless:

1. consigned from a property which
   1. has been regularly inspected and found to be free of fire ants; or
   2. is subject to control methods to prevent the establishment or spread of fire ants; and
2. agricultural equipment or used package be –
   1. cleaned free of earth material and organic matter by –
      1. brushing; or
      2. high pressure water; or
      3. steam; and
   2. inspected and found free of soil, organic matter and fire ants; 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 and 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.

Any equipment or used package 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 electric ant may enter Victoria without restriction, otherwise‐

the movement into Victoria of any agricultural equipment or used package which has contained any plant, plant material or plant product is prohibited unless:

1. agricultural equipment and used packages be,
   1. cleaned free of earth material and organic matter by-
      1. brushing; or
      2. high pressure water; or
      3. steam; and
   2. inspected and found free of earth material, organic matter and electric ants; or
2. 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.