Host / Commodity

Tomato

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

  • GS - Green Snail
  • SW - Spiralling Whitefly
  • NW - Noxious Weeds
  • RIFA - Fire Ant
  • EA - Electric Ant
  • PHY - Grape Phylloxera
  • TPP - Tomato Potato Psyllid
  • MFF - Mediterranean Fruit Fly
View Condition Definitions

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:

  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.

View Condition

Condition 3B - Mediterranean Fruit Fly: Pre-harvest treatment

Any tomatoes 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 field grown tomatoes into Victoria is prohibited unless certified that:

  1. each block of tomatoes for certification has been treated with a program of cover sprays consisting of:
    1. a trichlorfon mixture in a high volume application containing 250mL of a 500g/L product per 100L of spray mixture in the first application to a block; and
    2. a trichlorfon mixture in a high volume application containing 125mL of a 500g/L product per 100L of spray mixture in all subsequent spray applications; and
    3. applied thoroughly to the fruit to the point of run‐off; and
    4. commencing a minimum of three (3) weeks prior to harvest; and
    5. reapplied at an interval of not more than ten (10) days; and
    6. ending seven (7) days prior to completion of harvest; and
    7. post‐harvest inspected and found free of Mediterranean fruit fly, where one package in every 50 packages or part thereof; or 600 units are inspected, and
  2. 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; or
      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
  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 under ICA‐26, 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.

View Condition

Condition 11B - Mediterranean Fruit Fly: Post-harvest cold treatment

Any host produce 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 of importation of any Mediterranean fruit fly host produce (MFF host list), except coffee berries and goji berries, into Victoria is prohibited unless certified that:

  1. the fruit has been postharvest cold treated at a temperature of:
    1. 0.0°C ± 0.5°C for at least 14 days; or
    2. 1.0°C ± 0.5°C for at least 16 days; or in the case of lemons, 14 days; or
    3. 2.0°C ± 0.5°C for at least 18 days; or in the case of lemons, 16 days or
    4. 3.0°C ± 0.5°C for at least 20 days; or in the case of lemons, 18 days; 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; or
      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
  3. enters Victoria in accordance with a permit issued by Agriculture Victoria. To apply for a permit visit the Plant biosecurity permit page.

Caution: Tropical and subtropical fruit may be subject to chilling injury.

Documentation requirement: PHC, PHAC under ICA‐07, 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.

View Condition

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.

View Condition

Condition 16 - Mediterranean Fruit Fly: Fumigation

Any host produce 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 into Victoria of Mediterranean fruit fly host produce (MFF host list), except coffee berries and goji berries, is prohibited unless certified that the produce has been:

  1. fumigated with one of the following methyl bromide concentration and fruit core temperature options:
    1. 10°C – 10.9°C   @ 56g/m3 for 2 hours; or
    2. 11°C – 15.9°C   @ 48g/m3 for 2 hours; or
    3. 16°C – 20.9°C   @ 40g/m3 for 2 hours; or
    4. 21°C – 31.9°C @ 32g/m3 for 2 hours; and
  2. fumigant loading rates for fruits and vegetables are not less than 30%, nor more than 50%, of the volume of the chamber when empty; and
  3. the fumigator ensures produce packaged or covered with impervious materials (such as plastic bags, stacked plastic punnets or waxed paper), are opened, cut or removed to allow adequate penetration of the gas unless impervious materials contain: 
    1. not less than four unobstructed perforations of 6mm diameter per 100cm2; or
    2. five unobstructed perforations of 5mm diameter per 100cm2; or
    3. numerous pinholes (at least 6 holes per square centimetre); and
  4. 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
  5. enters Victoria in accordance with a permit issued by Agriculture Victoria. To apply for a permit visit the Plant biosecurity permit page ..

Caution: Some fruits may be damaged by this treatment. A trial treatment is recommended unless the response of fruits to this treatment is known.

Documentation requirement: PHC, PHAC under ICA‐04, 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.

View Condition

Condition 18A - Mediterranean Fruit Fly: Post-harvest irradiation

Any host produce 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 Mediterranean fruit fly host produce (MFF host list) into Victoria is prohibited unless certified that:

  1. in the case of fruits of plants approved under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Food Safety Code 1.5.3; be post‐ harvest irradiated, with a minimum absorbed dose of 150Gy; 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
      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
  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 under ICA‐ 55,  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.

View Condition

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 –

  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
      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
  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 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.

View Condition

Condition 19C - Mediterranean Fruit Fly: Repacked product

Any host produce 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 Mediterranean fruit fly, may enter Victoria without restriction, otherwise‐

the entry or importation into Victoria of any Mediterranean fruit fly host produce (MFF host list), is prohibited unless certified that the produce has been:

  1. accompanied by a certificate or declaration issued in accordance with condition 3B, 11B, 13A, 13B, 16, or 18A; and
  2. received, handled and stored in secure conditions to prevent infestation by MFF,
    1. where ‘secure conditions’ include:
      1. unvented packages; or
      2. vented packages with the vents secured by mesh having 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; and
      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, and
  3. kept in areas segregated from other consignments; and
  4. accompanied by a document that records the consignment’s original certification or declaration information, such as number and date the consignment passed verification; and
  5. handled, stored and repacked in secure conditions to prevent infestation by MFF, which includes:
    1. an environment that ensures the produce is not exposed to air temperature greater than 13ºC for longer than 60 minutes; or
    2. fully enclosed or screened buildings, cold rooms, automated doors, vehicles or other facilities free from gaps or other entry points greater than 1.6 mm; or
  6. enters Victoria in accordance with a permit issued by Agriculture Victoria. To apply for a permit visit the Plant biosecurity permit page.

Note: Repacked produce means produce which is treated and consigned as a bulk lot to another business for the purpose of producing smaller packs for consignment to Victoria.

Documentation requirement: PHC, PHAC under ICA-57, 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.

View Condition

Condition 51D - Tomato Potato Psyllid: Fruit and Vegetables for Consumption (with leaves, calyx or other attached green material)

Any fruit and vegetables for consumption 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 tomato potato psyllid, may enter Victoria without restriction, otherwise –

the movement into Victoria of any fruit and vegetables for consumption with leaves, calyx or other attached green material is prohibited unless it is:

  1. treated, prior to harvest, with an insecticide effective against all life stages of tomato potato psyllid and registered for the control of tomato potato psyllid at rates specified on the label, or in accordance with an approved APVMA permit, and
    1. packed in a manner that prevents infestation by tomato potato psyllid; and
    2. undergo a 600 unit inspection and be found free of tomato potato psyllid; or
  2. fumigated with 1000g/kg active constituent methyl bromide at:
    1. 10°C–10.9°C @ 56g/m3 for 2 hours, or
    2. 11°C–15.9°C @ 48g/m3 for 2 hours, or
    3. 16°C–20.9°C @ 40g/m3 for 2 hours, or
    4. 21°C–31.9°C @ 32g/m3 for 2 hours, and
    5. immediately after treatment, the fruit is place in secure conditions that prevent infestation by tomato potato psyllid; or
  3. enters Victoria in accordance with a permit issued by Agriculture Victoria. To apply for a permit visit the Plant biosecurity permit page.

'host plant' means any plant or plant product of such plants belonging to the plant families Convolvulaceae or Solanaceae, including fruit and vegetables for consumption and cut flowers, but excluding:

  • dried or processed plant products (such as chaff, dried herbs, grain, hay, mulch, seed or timber); or
  • tubers (including dormant seed, ware and processing potatoes), bulbs, corms and rhizomes without attached green material (e.g. leaves, stem, etc.); or
  • fresh fruit/vegetables without leaves, calyx or other attached green material.

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

View Condition