Seed Potato

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 plant in tissue culture or plant 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 or importation into Victoria of any host plant which have been grown or packed on a property within 25 km of an infestation of green snail but more than 2km from a green snail infested property is prohibited unless certified that:

1. the host plant has been grown or packed on a property which:
   1. has been baited and inspected from 1 April to 30 November (inclusive), for at least 3 months before importation using an APVMA approved molluscicide for the control of green snail in accordance with all APVMA label directions and permit conditions, and
   2. the baits are laid on the property, in a continuous strip, on a 3 m wide vegetation-free strip inside the perimeter of the property and transects through the property on a grid pattern with distances between the strips of:
      1. 100 m for properties up to 5 ha provided that there is at least two transects running through the centre of the property at right angles; or
      2. 200 m for properties between 5 and 10 ha; or
      3. 300 m for properties greater than 10 ha; and
2. inspected by an officer of the department responsible for agriculture in the state or territory in which the property is located, along bait trails 3 to 10 days after baits were laid and found free of green snail; and
3. if grown in a propagating/potting media which has a soil component, the media must:
   1. originate from, and be stored on, properties which have been baited and inspected and found free of green snails, in accordance with the baiting requirements above (1); or
   2. be disinfested with one of the following treatments:
      1. methyl bromide fumigation 0.6 kg/m³ for 72 hours on an impervious floor with the material laid or packed no more than 660 mm deep during fumigation, or
      2. a steam and air mix at a temperature of 60° C for 30 minutes, or
      3. fumigation with a chemical containing 940 g/kg dazomet in accordance with all APVMA label directions and permit conditions; or
4. enters Victoria in accordance with a permit issued by Agriculture Victoria. To apply for a permit visit the Plant biosecurity permit page; or
5. in the case of small lots of household potted plants, all plants must be:
   1. bare-rooted so as to be visually free of soil and potting media; or
   2. re‐potted into new commercially available potting media under the supervision of an officer of the department responsible for agriculture in the state or territory in which the material has been grown; and
   3. inspected by an officer of the department responsible for agriculture in the state or territory and found free of:
      1. green snail and
      2. earth material.

‘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 under ICA‐46, Plant Health Declaration or permit.

Any plant in tissue culture or plant 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 or importation into Victoria of any host plant which has been grown or packed on a property within 2km of a green snail infested property is prohibited unless certified that:

1. the host plant has been grown or packed on a property which-
   1. has been baited and inspected from 1 April to 30 November (inclusive), for at least 3 months before importation using an APVMA approved molluscicide for the control of green snail in accordance with all APVMA label directions and permit conditions, and
   2. the baits are laid on the property, in a continuous strip, on a 3 m wide vegetation-free strip inside the perimeter of the property and transects through the property on a grid pattern with distances between the strips of:
      1. 50 m for properties up to 5 ha provided that there is at least two transects running through the centre of the property at right angles; or
      2. 100 m for properties between 5 and 10 ha; or
      3. 200 m for properties greater than 10 ha; and
   3. inspected by an officer of the department responsible for agriculture in the state or territory in which the property is located, along bait trails 3 to 10 days after baits were laid and found free of green snail; and
2. be grown or packed on a property that has a control/hygiene program in place to prevent the entry of green snail, which includes:
   1. additional 3 m wide vegetation free strip (on the inside edge of the 3 m baited boundary strip) around the perimeter of the property that is:
      1. baiting using an APVMA approved molluscicide for the control of green snail in accordance with all APVMA label directions and permit conditions, and applied each four weeks between the months of April and November, inclusive; or
      2. a continuous physical barrier constructed of:
         • galvanised sheet bent at an angle of 20 degrees to the soil surface; or
         • an electric fence designed specifically for snails; and
   2. a continuous trench extending 3 metres inside the perimeter of the property that contains an unbroken line of bait between the months of April and November inclusive; and protection of driveways with a continuous trench of 100 mm wide and 100 mm deep along both sides of the entire length of the driveway, constructed from a solid material such as concrete; and
   3. any plant material for packing is sourced from properties known to be free of green snail; and
   4. the storage of stock for export is more than 30 m from a baited boundary; and
3. treated within 2 days prior to export with an APVMA approved chemical cover spray for the control of green snail in accordance with all APVMA label directions and permit conditions; and
4. if grown in a propagating/potting media which has a soil component, the media must:
   1. originate from, and be stored on, properties which have been baited and inspected and found free of green snails, in accordance with the baiting requirements above (1); or
   2. be disinfested with one of the following treatments:
      1. methyl bromide fumigation 0.6 kg/m³ for 72 hours on an impervious floor with the material laid or packed no more than 660 mm deep during fumigation, or
      2. a steam and air mix at a temperature of 60° C for 30 minutes, or
      3. fumigation with a chemical containing 940 g/kg dazomet in accordance with all APVMA label directions and permit conditions; or
5. enters Victoria in accordance with a permit issued by Agriculture Victoria. To apply for a permit visit the Plant biosecurity permit page; or
6. in the case of small lots of household potted plants, all plants must be:
   1. bare-rooted so as to be visually free of soil and potting media; or
   2. re‐potted into new commercially available potting media under the supervision of an officer of the department responsible for agriculture in the state or territory in which the material has been grown; and
   3. inspected by an officer of the department responsible for agriculture in the state or territory and found free of:
      1. green snail and
      2. earth material.

‘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 plant in tissue culture or plant 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 or importation into Victoria of any host material is prohibited unless certified that:

1. the host material be grown, packed and handled on a property located more than 25km from a green snail infested property

‘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 or Plant Health Declaration

Any potato for planting or propagation, including seed potatoes, grown and packed in a place covered by an Area Freedom Certificate declaring that the area from which the host material originated is known to be free of potato cyst nematode may enter Victoria without restriction, otherwise‐

the movement of any potato for planting or propagation (including seed potatoes), into Victoria is prohibited unless certified or labelled as being:

1. produced under the requirements of a national certified seed scheme* and accompanied by the certified seed tag, or
2. in the case of generation zero (G0)* seed, be produced under the specifications of a national seed scheme and be accompanied by the black label national certified seed tag, or
3. in the case of one‐off seed (smalls), be accompanied with a plant health certificate certifying that the property where the produce was grown has been tested* during the current growing season and found free of potato cyst nematode.

* National Certified Seed Scheme means:

• a scheme approved by the Plant Health Committee;
• a scheme which requires an approved method of soil‐testing during the current growing season and found free from potato cyst nematode;
• seed potatoes certified under this scheme must have approved national certified seed tags attached to the consignment which eliminate the requirement for plant health certification; or
• generation zero (G0) seed produced under this scheme is exempted as it is produced in an approved facility and accompanied by the black label national certified seed tag.

Seed potato certification schemes deemed to meet National Standards are:

• Australian Seed Potato Industry Certification Authority (AuSPICA) Seed Potato Certification Scheme;
• Tasmanian Certified Seed Potato Scheme (TasSeed).

* Generation Zero (G0) means mini tubers and tissue culture produced in a soil‐less media and from a facility approved under a national certified seed scheme.

* Tested means in a manner approved by the Plant Health Committee or as defined in the national certified seed scheme.

Documentation requirement: PHC, certified seed tag, or black label national certified seed tag.

Under S71 of the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, “a person must not wilfully bring or cause to be brought into Victoria or transport within Victoria the seeds of a noxious weed or any other part of a noxious weed which is capable of growing whether or not for sale, without a permit from the Secretary.” The movement of noxious weed contaminated fodder, stock, grain, machinery, soil, gravel or stone is also prohibited.

Note: Seeds or other hosts may be tested prior to import into Victoria by an accredited seed testing laboratory for the presence of weed seed. A permit is required only if any weed seed is present in the consignment.

For further details contact the Department Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

Any plants 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 plants (excluding tissue culture, bare rooted plants and seedlings in plugs/cells*) is prohibited unless:

1. consigned from a property which has been regularly inspected and found to be free of fire ants; or is subject to control methods to prevent the establishment or spread of fire ants; and
2. containerised, potted and root-balled plants, trees and propagules:
   1. be grown in media treated with one of the following chemicals in accordance with the approved APMVA label or permit:
      1. a liquid mixture containing 500g/L chlorpyrifos applied at 40mL/100L water by full immersion dip or drenching of the growing medium; or
      2. a liquid mixture containing 80g/L bifenthrin applied at 2.5mL/L water as full immersion dip or drench, and plants consigned within 28 days; or
      3. a liquid mixture containing 100g/L bifenthrin applied at 2mL/L water as full immersion dip or drench, and plants consigned within 28 days; or
      4. a liquid mixture containing 240g/L bifenthrin applied at 0.8mL/L water as full immersion dip or drench, and plants consigned within 28 days; or
      5. a liquid mixture containing 25g/L betacyfluthrin applied at 16mL/10L water by drenching of the growing medium applied 48-72 hours prior to consigning; or
      6. a 100g/kg chlorpyrifos granular insecticide at 1kg per cubic metre of growing media, and plants consigned within 12 months; or
      7. a 2g/kg bifenthrin granular insecticide thoroughly blended at 10ppm, and plants consigned within 6 months; or
      8. a 2g/kg bifenthrin granular insecticide thoroughly blended at 12ppm, and plants consigned within 12 months; or
      9. a 2g/kg bifenthrin granular insecticide thoroughly blended at 15ppm, and plants consigned within 24 months; 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.

*plugs/cells means any vessel with a volume of no more than 0.1 L used to grow or transport plants.

Documentation requirement: PHC, PHAC under ICA-39, BioSecure HACCP Health Certificate under ECCPRIFA28, 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.

Any plant 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 plants or plant products (excluding tissue culture, bare-rooted plants washed free of earth material and seedlings in plugs/cells) is prohibited unless:

1. grown in media treated with one of the following chemicals in accordance with the approved APVMA label or permit -:
   1. a liquid mixture containing 80 g/L bifenthrin applied at 2.5 mL/L water as full immersion dip or drench, and plants consigned within 28 days; or
   2. a liquid mixture containing 500 g/L chlorpyrifos applied at 40 mL/100L by drenching of the growing medium, and plants consigned within 28 days; or
   3. a 2 g/kg bifenthrin granular insecticide thoroughly blended at 10 ppm, and plants consigned within 6 months; or
   4. a 2 g/kg bifenthrin granular insecticide thoroughly blended at 12 ppm, and plants consigned within 12 months; or
   5. a 2 g/kg bifenthrin granular insecticide thoroughly blended at 15 ppm, and plants consigned within 24 months; or
   6. a 100 g/kg chlorpyrifos granular insecticide at 1 kg/m³ of growing media, and plants consigned within 12 months; and
   7. stored, handled and consigned in such a manner that would prevent infestation of 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.

Any potatoes of the Solanaceae family for planting or propagation (seed potatoes) in Victoria 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 Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid (PSTVd) may enter Victoria without restriction, otherwise‐

the movement into Victoria of any seed potato or any other potato intended for planting or propagation, including plants in tissue culture is prohibited unless:

1. produced and certified by a business accredited under the seed potato certification scheme operated by the Australian Seed Potato Industry Certification Authority (AuSPICA); or
2. sourced from a crop which has been sampled and tested, and found free of PSTVd where:
   1. sampling means 200 leaves are taken at random from the crop during the growing season; and
   2. testing means analysis of the leaves in a diagnostic facility; or
3. enters Victoria in accordance with a permit issued by an Agriculture Victoria. To apply for a permit, visit the Plant biosecurity permit page.

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