Advanced notification of the release of PS-66: Pest Free Production Site for Tomato-Potato Psyllid

24 December 2026

Current situation

Agriculture Victoria has been developing a new arrangement for Pest Free Production Site for Tomato-Potato Psyllid (PS-66), which will be released on 5 January 2026. This procedure applies to protected cropping systems only.

Businesses will be able to apply for accreditation under PS-66 procedure from 5 January 2026. Applications received prior to this date will not be processed and must be resubmitted on or after 5 January 2026.

Advanced notification of the release of this arrangement is being provided to allow for interested businesses to collect and collate relevant information to support the application (see below).

PS-66 will apply to the management of host and carrier products grown and packed at a TPP Pest Free Production Site. The procedure covers:

• the establishment and verification of a pest free production site (glasshouses, polyhouses, enclosed structures) for TPP
• the management and monitoring of products grown at the pest free production site (protected cropping systems only), and
• the requirements for inspection, secure packaging, dispatch and certification of products from businesses accredited through the procedure.

Nursery stock and produce including fruit and vegetables, cut flowers, herbs, and associated packaging material are covered by the procedure. The establishment and maintenance of property freedom under PS-66 will require the following:

• surveillance
• scouting
• trap installation
• monitoring
• phytosanitary measures
• record-keeping, and
• compliance audits necessary to demonstrate and maintain the property's freedom from TPP.

The procedure applies to consignments that are intended for importation into Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia. The procedure is currently under review by Tasmania, and notification will be provided when it is available for use when sending product to Tasmania.

Actions that can be taken prior to accreditation opening

While application for accreditation under PS-66 opens on 5 January, there are things businesses can do to prepare for the application process. This includes collecting and collating the required information, such as:

• a Property Plan showing Surveillance Units, trap locations, and site layout
• completion of two successive surveillance events with no TPP detected:
  • trap monitoring records (fortnightly)
  • scouting and plant inspection records (weekly).
• demonstration that a trap program is in place:
  • yellow sticky or delta traps with barriers
  • trap density:
    • 1 trap per 300m² (glasshouses/polyhouses/enclosed structures)
    • 1 trap per 100m² (propagation bays)
    • 1 trap per entry point
• procedures for suspect sample submission to Crop Health Services (Agriculture Victoria).

Contact marketaccess@agriculture.vic.gov.au for further details.

How to apply for accreditation under PS-66

Applications for PS-66 accreditation open on 5 January 2026.

Apply for accreditation

• You must complete part 1 and part 2 and/or part 3 of the application form depending on whether you have a current arrangement with Agriculture Victoria.
• Ensure you complete all sections of the application form and include any required attachments.
• All potential staff from a business who may sign PHAC books on behalf of the business need to complete an Authorised Signatory form and submit it with your application.
• Businesses authorising multiple staff should submit signatory certificates together to speed up processing.

Complete the required eLearn

• You must pass the eLearn assessment to receive accreditation.
• The assessment is challenging to maintain rigour in the process, and successful completion requires reading all content in the modules. You may need to take the assessment multiple times if you don’t pass on your first attempt.

Finalise your accreditation submission

Ensure you include:

• a Property Plan showing surveillance units, trap locations and site layout
• evidence that you have established a Pest Free Production Site
• training records for Surveillance Officer(s), and
• any other supporting documentation required under the procedure.

Additional information on the specific requirements for a PS-66 accreditation is included in the attached ‘Factsheet: How to gain accreditation as a Pest Free Production Site for Tomato-Potato Psyllid’.

Processing applications takes time and depends on several factors: the number of applications received, whether applicants provide correct and complete information, and how quickly they respond to communications from Agriculture Victoria. Both Agriculture Victoria and the applicant must complete multiple steps as part of the accreditation process.

A Certificate of Accreditation is issued after assessments are passed. You cannot operate under an accreditation until the certificate is issued.

About TPP

Tomato potato psyllid is a sapsucking insect affecting Solanaceae and Convolvulaceae crops. It can spread the bacterium that causes zebra chip in potatoes, though Victoria and Australia, remain free of the bacterium. TPP detections in Melbourne (2025) and the Bellarine Peninsula (2024) have triggered new interstate movement restrictions from 8 December 2025.

Agriculture Victoria is working with other states to restore market access.

Implications for businesses

From 8 December, businesses sending plants or produce interstate must meet the destination state’s entry requirements. Depending on the destination, consignments may require:

• a Plant Health Certificate, or
• a Plant Health Assurance Certificate (PHAC) from an accredited business.

Businesses should monitor Agriculture Victoria’s website for updates.

Interstate quarantine requirements

Businesses must check host/carrier lists and rules for each state. Visit Tomato-potato psyllid information for businesses for more information.

Also check the current import conditions for TPP in each state:

New South Wales

• Movement conditions for plants, plant products and related items
  (search for TPP)

Tasmania

• Importing Plants (Nursery Stock) 
  (search for Import Requirement 46 – Tomato Potato Psyllid – Hosts and Carriers)
• Group Permits

South Australia

• New condition 17 entry conditions

Queensland

• Tomato-potato psyllid

Northern Territory

• Northern Territory Plant Health Manual - PDF (4.8 MB)
  (search for Condition 23 for TPP)

Drought relief for accreditation fees

Under the Victorian Government Drought Support Package:

• Plant biosecurity fees remain at 2024-25 levels.
• From 1 October 2025 to 30 June 2026, specific fees (application, audits, travel and non-conformance reports) are waived for TPP-related market access activities.

Learn more by visiting Fees and charges for plant biosecurity services.

More information

Find webinars, packing-shed posters (collateral), detailed guidance and more by visiting Tomato-potato psyllid for businesses.