Turf

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.

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 turf 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 may enter Victoria without restriction, otherwise‐

the movement into Victoria of turf 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. the host material was  –
   1. treated by cover spraying, at least 48 hours before lifting, with a solution of containing 500 g/l of chlorpyrifos at the rate of 2L/ha
   2. despatched within 28 days of treatment; and
   3. stored, handled and consigned after harvesting so as to prevent infestation with 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 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 turf is prohibited unless:

1. treated by cover spraying, at least 48 hours before lifting, with a solution containing 500g/L of chlorpyrifos at the rate of 2L/ha; and
2. dispatched within 28 days of treatment; and
3. stored, handled and consigned after harvesting so as to prevent infestation with electric ants; 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 or permit.