Tomato potato psyllid industry guide

Under current Tomato potato psyllid (TPP) regulations:

• Hosts
  The host plant families are Convolvulaceae and Solanaceae. See the following links for a list of the plants in these families:
  https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Solanaceae
  https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Convolvulaceae
  A technical review of the hosts of TPP confirmed that plants of the Convolvulaceae and Solanaceae families were the only hosts of TPP.

• Carriers
  The definition of a carrier varies by state. In some jurisdictions, it can include all other plant families that are not true hosts.
  This means advanced trees and ornamental plants may be classified as carriers and require treatment if sent to states with carrier restrictions.
  Import conditions for each state:
• New South Wales: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/dpi/biosecurity/plant-biosecurity/market-access-and-trade/nsw-movement-zones/movement-conditions-for-plants,-plant-products-and-related-items (search for “TPP”)
• Tasmania: https://nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/biosecurity/importing-plants (search for “Import Requirement 46 – Tomato Potato Psyllid – Hosts and Carriers”)
• South Australia: https://interstatequarantine.org.au/new-condition-17-entry-conditions/ (includes PDF link and recent changes)
• Queensland: https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/biosecurity/plants/priority-pest-disease/tomato-potato-psyllid
• Northern Territory: https://daf.nt.gov.au/publications/publications-search/publications-database/primary-industry/plants/plant-health-manual.pdf (search for ‘Condition 23 for TPP’)
• Exemptions
  Seed potatoes and bulbs: exempt because they do not have green material. Other import conditions may still apply for example nursery stock also requires ICA-29 treatment and certification to go to WA.

  Bare root trees: exempt if they have no green material.

• Special cases
  Families like Araceae and Orchideae may need treatment if the importing state classifies all non-host families as carriers.

• Sending plants interstate
  If a plant is not a host or carrier under the importing state’s rules, it is exempt from TPP requirements such as a Plant Health Assurance Certificate (PHAC), inspection, and treatment.

• Updates
  Other states may update their carrier definitions and requirements due to the planned revocation of Victoria’s area freedom, but this is at each jurisdiction’s discretion and timeline.

• Approved chemicals and permits
  Agriculture Victoria is working with Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria (NGIV) and Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA) on available chemicals for TPP.
  Permit applications for new chemicals are usually led by industry and assessed by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). Label changes must be made by the chemical registrant.

• Withholding periods
  Chemicals approved for TPP treatment include options with short withholding periods for edible plants, making them suitable for trade compliance.
  ICA-62 (TPP carrier protocol) is under review and may be updated after initial negotiations to maintain trade.

Future updates

• There are plans to review ICA-62 and expand available chemistries after this initial phase to support industry needs.
• Agriculture Victoria will advocate with jurisdictions for updates to ICA-29 and ICA-62 with the aim to make them consistent including chemical rates and treatment windows.

• Safety and timing
  ICA-62 currently requires treatment 72 hours before dispatch. Growers should follow chemical safety guidelines and consult suppliers for best practice.

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and organic approaches
  Agriculture Victoria acknowledges the challenge for organic and biological growers. There will be opportunities to review ICA requirements and explore alternative approaches after initial trade negotiations. Organic growers need to check with their certifying body as to what chemicals can be used within their certification.

• Neonicotinoid use
  Neonicotinoids are allowed under biosecurity protocols for interstate plant movement, despite some retailers choosing not to stock or supply these products. Best practice involves using neonicotinoids in rotation with other chemical classes to manage resistance.

• Timing
  Inspections must occur after treatment, as required by ICA-62. This is because TPP can hide on the underside of leaves and may survive treatment if not verified.
  Pre-treatment inspections are not currently allowed and would require interstate agreement.

• Sampling rates
  ICA-62 uses a two-step approach: treatment plus inspection. The inspection rate is 2% of the consignment or 600 plants, whichever is greater. For small consignments, this can mean inspecting all plants.

• Record-keeping
  An inspection record must be completed for each end-point inspection, based on a consignment or lot.
  Chemical use records must be made within 48 hours of the use and kept for a minimum of two years.

• Future changes
  Any changes to inspection timing or sampling rates will require negotiation with other states and may involve additional risk assessments. This is considered a medium-term goal.

• Why inspections are needed
  ICA-62 requires inspection after treatment to confirm the treatment has worked and plants are free of TPP.
  TPP can shelter in protected areas and survive treatment, so inspection is an essential risk management step.

• Practical challenges
  • Large consignments: The current 2% or 600 plant rule can mean inspecting all plants in some cases. Changes to this requirement will need interstate negotiation and are a medium-term priority for Agriculture Victoria.
  • Safety (WHS): Inspections must follow chemical label advice for withholding periods to reduce exposure risks.
  • Compliance: ICA-62 is designed to maintain interstate trade while managing biosecurity risk. Updates to improve practicality will be considered in future reviews.

• When PHAC is required
  A plant health assurance certificate (PHAC) is required for every interstate order under ICA rules.
• If the consignment contains hosts or carriers, treatment and certification are mandatory.
• If the consignment contains non-host items without green material (e.g., bulbs or seeds), TPP certification is not required, but other import conditions may still apply.
• Multiple ICA codes
  If a consignment meets requirements for more than one ICA (e.g., ICA-42 and ICA-62), both codes can be listed on one PHAC.
• Cross-dock scenarios
  A single PHAC applies to one consignee in another jurisdiction. If stock is sent via a Victorian cross-dock and then re-consigned to multiple destinations, each consignee requires its own PHAC.

• Booklets
  Agriculture Victoria has good stocks of PHAC booklets. These must be used when issuing PHACs.

• Prepopulated details
  Businesses can pre-fill their details (e.g., stamp or sticker) on PHACs, but the Authorised Signatory must complete and sign the certificate for each consignment after inspection and treatment.

• Inspection records
  Must be completed at the time of end-point inspection or immediately after. They can be typed or handwritten, as long as they capture all required information.

• Digital PHACs
  Online PHAC submission is being developed nationally but it will not be available in the short term.

• Secure transport definition
  After treatment, carrier nursery stock must be securely packed and transported to prevent contamination with TPP.
  Options include:
• Fully enclosed or screened vehicles (e.g., tautliners in good condition)
• Coverings such as tarpaulins, hessian, shade cloth, mesh, or similar materials with a maximum aperture of 1.6 mm
• Boxing plants
  Boxing is not required if plants are transported in an enclosed or screened vehicle. Large plants (e.g., 2 m trees) can remain unboxed if secure transport requirements are met.

• Mixed loads and cross-docks
  If ICA-62 treated stock is transported with non-treated material, it must be securely packed and labelled according to ICA-62 section 9.
  Dispatch refers to leaving the ICA-62 accredited facility, not the state border. Stock can sit at a Victorian freight depot before interstate travel if secure transport conditions are maintained.

• Cut flowers
  Host cut flowers can move to NSW/SA with no restrictions. Carrier cut flowers can move to NSW/SA/NT with no restrictions. Agriculture Victoria is working with other states on protocol options outside of the above.

• Cross-dock challenges
  ICA-62 does not currently account for reconsolidation at cross-docks before interstate travel. Compliance relies on maintaining secure conditions during unloading and reloading.
  Boxing every plant is not required if secure transport standards are met.

• Large consignments
  Secure transport requirements apply regardless of consignment size. For oversized plants, enclosed or screened vehicles remain the preferred option.

• Compliance and flexibility
  Agriculture Victoria is open to discussing practical solutions with industry to ensure ICA requirements can be met without unnecessary burden.

• Statewide approach
  Agriculture Victoria will revoke the area freedom certificate for the entire state. This means Victoria will no longer be considered free from TPP as a whole. A regional approach, similar to Queensland’s fire ant zones, is not planned.

• Property-level freedom
  Property freedom is being considered but it will require significant redevelopment of the CA-14 arrangement. Industry feedback indicates that meeting the current CA-14 requirements is virtually impossible for most businesses. Instead, Agriculture Victoria is negotiating with other jurisdictions to agree on arrangements that are practical for industry. This arrangement may provide an alternative for organic producers and producers of plants intended for consumption.

• Timing
  There is currently no definitive timing for revoking area freedom. This will be dependent on a range of factors, including further detections of TPP and the support from other jurisdictions. Businesses should apply now for ICA-62 accreditation to avoid market access disruptions. Accreditation can usually be completed within a week.

• Notice periods
  Agriculture Victoria will aim to advise your business as early as possible before the Victorian Area Freedom for Tomato Potato Psyllid is revoked and ICA-62 is required for interstate market access. Noting that jurisdictions may implement restrictions on Victorian products at any time.

• Data and reinstatement
  While Victoria has historical data showing no TPP in many growing areas, recent detections (e.g., Melbourne’s north) suggest TPP may be more widespread. Trapping and surveillance will inform future decisions, but reinstating area freedom would require extensive evidence and agreement from other states.

• Border monitoring
  Compliance activities for plant movements across borders will be managed by the receiving jurisdiction, not Agriculture Victoria. This includes monitoring public movements and small plant collectors.

• NGIV trade day
  NGIV is considering options to help facilitate trade at events. If border restrictions are implemented prior to the NGIV trade day, all growers sending plants interstate will need ICA-62 accreditation, regardless of whether they are NGIV members or not.  Agriculture Victoria encourages all growers intending to send stock interstate at the NGIV trade day to obtain appropriate accreditations prior to the day to reduce the risk of trade impacts.

• Non-nursery industries
  Movement of fresh produce from host crops to interstate markets requires separate negotiations with other jurisdictions.
  This is a current priority for Agriculture Victoria because it involves significant changes to import conditions.

• National database
  A national horticulture grower database does not currently exist, but Agriculture Victoria supports this idea. It will be flagged with developers of the National Action Plan for pests of horticultural crops as a future option.

• Clarity and documentation
  ICA-62 requirements for packing and transport are being reviewed to address industry concerns.
  Agriculture Victoria will continue to provide guidance and FAQs to reduce confusion and avoid businesses needing to email individually.

• Identification training
  ICA-62 training is available now through two e-learning modules. Once a business submits a completed application form, they will receive links to access the training and can complete it at their own pace.

• Additional resources
  The NGIQ PestID tool provides useful information and is open to all users. This can help businesses improve pest identification and compliance readiness.

• Financial support
  From 1 October 2025, Agriculture Victoria has been waiving some plant biosecurity fees.
  What fees are waived?
  Between 1 October 2025 and 30 June 2026, we will not charge fees for:
• application processing
• audits, including associated travel
• issuing non-conformance reports

These waivers apply to service delivery changes linked to market access for tomato potato psyllid (TPP).

What fees remain?
All other plant biosecurity services will continue at the usual rates. For 2025–26, fees and charges remain at 2024–25 levels. More information about plant biosecurity fees can be found at Fees and charges for plant biosecurity services.

• Licensing requirements
  If a business or individual charges a fee for spraying or inspections, they must hold a Commercial Operators Licence (COL) in Victoria.
  • Mutual recognition applies for licences from other jurisdictions.
  • Permission from the produce owner is required before applying agricultural chemicals.

Although TPP can be controlled with chemicals, it still poses a serious risk to agriculture:

• Direct plant damage
  TPP causes significant harm to host plants such as tomatoes and potatoes.
  Damage includes leaf yellowing, distorted growth in leaves, stems, fruit and tubers, and in severe cases, plant death.
  The sugars excreted by TPP lead to sooty mould, which makes plants look dirty, reduces photosynthesis, and attracts ants.

• Risk of CLso
  TPP is a known vector for Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso), one of Australia’s National Priority Plant Pests.
  CLso causes a disease for which there is no known cure. If TPP becomes widespread, and CLso is ever detected in Australia, the pathogen could spread rapidly and devastate host crops.

Strict restrictions aim to limit TPP spread now, reducing the risk of CLso becoming unmanageable in the future.

For more information on CLso, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/clso.