Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Drought, disaster and rural support
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Levies and charges on agricultural products
    • Mouse infestation advice
    • Plant health
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Report a concern
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2025-26

    Budget 2025-26

    The 2025–26 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 25 March 2025.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Import
  4. Importing goods
  5. Plants and plant products
  6. Live plants

Sidebar first - Import

  • Plants and plant products
    • Bulk grain
      • Bulk grain guidance and templates
      • Managing the biosecurity risks of imported bulk grain
    • Cut flowers and foliage
      • Managing pests
      • Supply chain management system requirements
      • Importing cut flowers for commercial use guide
    • Food, drink and supplements
    • Fresh produce
    • Live plants
      • Approved sources of Phalaenopsis
      • Approved sources of tissue cultures free of media
      • Emergency measures for Xylella
      • Live plant forms
    • Managing plant imports biosecurity risk
    • Plant-based animal feed
      • Guide to engaging and undertaking third party audits of processed plant-based stockfeed facilities
      • Infographic - importing processed plant-based animal feed
      • Plant-based animal feed and fertiliser forms
      • Requirements for facilities manufacturing and exporting processed plant-based stockfeed and their ingredients to Australia
    • Plant products applied to soils and plants
    • Seeds for planting
      • Applications for approval of new phytosanitary treatments for seeds
      • Coversheet for seed for planting consignments
      • Department approved seed purity testing laboratories
      • Emergency measures: Tomato brown rugose fruit virus
      • Emergency measures for tomato and capsicum seed: Tomato mottle mosaic virus Questions and Answers
      • International Clean Seed Pathway Workshop
      • Pathogen test request form
      • Reviewing laboratory test reports checklists
      • Seed contaminants and tolerance tables
      • Vegetable seeds policy review
    • Plant research material
    • Processing imported plant material in Australia
    • Timber, bamboo and wood products
      • Treatments for timber and timber products
        • Timber permanent preservative treatment requirements
          • Approved timber permanent preservative formulations
          • Timber preservation standards
      • Canadian Sawn Wood Certification Program (CSWCP)
      • Imports for non-commercial (personal) use
      • Types of timber, bamboo, and related products
      • Non-standard import permits for timber and plant products not for human consumption

Importing live plants (nursery stock)

We have been improving this page and would like to hear from you.

Share your feedback at the end of the page. Answer the question ‘Was this page helpful?’. You can also add comments to your response.

News and alerts

We’ve strengthened import requirements for live plants (nursery stock) to protect against the bacterial plant pathogen Xylella. Find out how Xylella measures will affect you.

Read other important announcements that may affect how you import plant and plant products.

Subscribe to receive import industry advice notices.

Nursery stock includes live plants and plant material other than seeds imported for growing or propagating.

All imported nursery stock— except orchid tissue cultures brought through the airport as accompanied baggage – requires an import permit. This is regardless of the amount or whether it’s for personal or commercial use.

We inspect all nursery stock imports on arrival in Australia.

Some nursery stock will also require treatment, post entry quarantine growth and testing for pests and diseases.

 

Before you import

You must comply with the import conditions for nursery stock.

Import conditions help to prevent the entry of exotic pests, diseases and other biosecurity risk material into Australia.

Import conditions can vary depending on the:

  • genus and species
  • form of plant material
  • country of origin of plant material.

Importing nursery stock can be a complex process. Use this guide and read the information carefully before you apply to import any amount of nursery stock, for commercial or personal use.

Imported plants must:

  • only contain permitted plant species
  • be free from live pests, soil, disease symptoms, contaminant seed, other plant material (contaminating leaf, stem material, fruit pulp, pod material, etc.), animal material (animal faeces, feathers, etc.) and any other material of biosecurity concern
  • be packed in clean, new, pest-proof packaging and clearly labelled with the full botanical name of the plant (genus and species).
Blank

Before you import your plants, you will need to:

  • know the scientific name of the plant, often referred to as the botanical name (genus and species)
  • know the form of plant material you are importing
  • arrange on-arrival treatment and post-entry quarantine if required. Do this before applying for an import permit
  • apply for an import permit
  • work with your supplier to have the goods inspected pre-export and prepared for shipment
  • gather all required documents
  • submit a notice of importation
  • know about any fees and charges.

Use the scientific name to check BICON for the full list of conditions you need to meet for your import. Once you have found the right BICON case, you will be asked some questions and then directed to the relevant import scenario and import conditions.

For a demonstration on how to use scientific name search in BICON, watch the following video.

BICON Scientific Name Search Demonstration

You can search BICON using the following three options. “Quick search”, Scientific name” and “Tariff code”.

Using scientific names is the most effective way to find seed and nursery stock cases.

To do this, select the “Scientific name” tab.

You can search by genus or at species level.

Enter the scientific name you wish to search for in the search box. In this example we are using “Cucumis sativus” as our search term.

Then click the “Filter” button to display a list of available scientific names.

Select your preferred result and click the “Search” button.

You will be presented with several results. You will need to read the case descriptions and choose the most appropriate case.

In this example, we will select the “Cucumis sativus seed for sowing” case.

Once you are in the case, answer the questions to determine which biosecurity conditions you must comply with.

Ensure you read the conditions carefully. You can email or call us on 1800 900 090 if you have any questions.

A courier service or customs broker can also help you meet all conditions. They can also help you with lodging import documentation and other border clearance requirements.

Goods that don’t meet the import conditions will not be permitted entry into Australia.

Approved sources of tissue cultures free of media

We accept imported tissue cultures free of media from certain overseas facilities. See our list of approved offshore suppliers.

Other agencies

You may also need to meet laws and requirements set by other Australian commonwealth and state/territory authorities.

Make sure you’re aware of all your obligations. Check with other agencies before you bring goods into Australia.

You can use a customs broker to help you with this.

If the species is not permitted

You can’t import a plant species that is not permitted until import conditions have been developed and published on BICON.

To import a species not listed in BICON we need to undertake a weed risk assessment first. A disease risk assessment may also be required.

You can send us a completed new plant introduction form to have it considered.

The assessments may take more than a year to complete. There is no guarantee your application will be successful.

Some live plants will require on-arrival treatment and post-entry quarantine (PEQ) growth.

Use BICON to check any treatment or PEQ requirements, including whether the plants will need to:

  • go into the government PEQ facility, or
  • undergo PEQ at a third-party approved arrangement (AA) site.

To make a booking at the government PEQ facility use our Post Entry Biosecurity System (PEBS).

To book the plants into an AA, contact the AA site operator.

Make these arrangements before you apply for an import permit.

Before you apply

Live plants can only be imported to Australia under an import permit we have issued. The only exception where a permit is not required is for imported orchid tissue cultures brought through the airport as accompanied baggage.

Make sure you:

  • read the information on how to apply for an import permit in BICON
  • register for a BICON account if you don’t already have one
  • know the scientific name and form of the imported plant material
  • obtain a valid import permit well in advance of the arrival of your goods in Australia.

Apply for a permit

To apply:

Login to BICON.

Select the ‘apply now’ button.

Blank

When we receive your application, we will:

  • check you have supplied all information
  • assess the application
  • review and assess any previous import compliance
  • request any further details we need for our assessment
  • advise you of the outcome.

Your application must include sufficient evidence that you can comply with the import conditions to be granted an import permit.

You can email or call us on 1800 900 090 if you have any questions.

Import permit fees and charges are non-refundable.

Pre-export inspection

Your supplier must arrange for the exporting country’s National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) to inspect the live plants before shipment to Australia.

Make sure your supplier knows Australia’s import conditions.

If the NPPO is satisfied that the plants meet Australia’s import conditions, they will issue a phytosanitary certificate.

Preparing your goods for shipment

Work with your supplier to prepare your plants for shipment.

Following are tips to keep your plants healthy during transportation and complete our on-arrival biosecurity requirements without delay:

  • don’t send plants with soft, tender new growth
  • choose plants that have hardened off
  • send dormant material if the plant is deciduous or a perennial such as bulbs, corms, tubers
  • avoid any constricting ties that may bruise the plants
  • minimise the shipping time for perishable plants. Airfreight is usually the fastest. Sending by international mail is not recommended.
  • remove surplus foliage and flowers to reduce condensation and dehydration in transit
  • use temperature controlled shipping to maintain good plant health
  • package any tissue culture vials or containers in a way that prevents breakage.
  • You may also use certain packing material that protects the plant from damage during transport. For information on acceptable packaging materials, search for “packing materials and packaging of plants” in BICON.

If you’re mailing or ordering goods online, make sure you:

  • use a reputable supplier
  • clearly mark on the parcel “Attention Biosecurity - Live plant material”
  • address the parcel as per the instructions in BICON. This will generally be either directly to the government PEQ facility or care of a regional nursery stock team
  • include your import documents such as import permit, packing list, invoice, phytosanitary certificate in an envelope. Secure the envelope inside and to the outside of the parcel.
  • Check all requirements for sending and ordering goods online from outside Australia.

Live plants pose a high biosecurity risk. If you’ve received plants by mail that you didn’t order report it to our See. Secure. Report. hotline on 1800 798 636

Phytosanitary certificate

Blank

A phytosanitary certificate is issued by the exporting government National Plant Protection Organisation. It states that the plants or plant products have been inspected and are free from live pests of biosecurity concern.

Check BICON for any specific phytosanitary certificate requirements.

Import permit

All imported live plants must be accompanied by a valid import permit. The only exception where a permit is not required is for imported orchid tissue cultures brought through the airport as accompanied baggage.

A customs broker can lodge the documents to us on your behalf.

You must complete a notice of importation form (NOI).

Email the completed NOI to the relevant regional office before the plants arrive in Australia.

The NOI notifies us of your expected consignment. To minimise any delays to your goods being inspected on arrival, we must receive the NOI:

  • for full container load consignments, before the container is shipped.
  • for all other consignments, at least 7 working days before consignment’s arrival.

On arrival

Blank

A biosecurity officer will review your documents to ensure the plants meet Australia’s import conditions.

Documents we will ask you to provide include:

  • phytosanitary certificate
  • import permit
  • supplier’s invoice and transport information
  • incoming passenger card (for goods carried as accompanied baggage).

If the documentation we receive is invalid or incomplete, we will not be able to clear the goods.

A biosecurity officer will:

Blank
  1. check the packaging for cleanliness and damage and secure the consignment if necessary.
  2. inspect for live pests, weed seeds, diseases and other biosecurity risk material.

If no biosecurity concerns are found and all import conditions have been met and the goods do not require onshore treatment, post-entry quarantine growth or testing, they are released from biosecurity control.

If any biosecurity concerns are found, the biosecurity officer will share the results and provide you or your customs broker with management options. These may include:

  • destroying the goods
  • exporting the goods out of Australia
  • treating the goods so they are safe to enter Australia.

This may be applied to the whole shipment, or just the contaminated part.

These actions are undertaken at the importer’s expense.

Learn more about how we inspect and clear imported goods.

Most imported non-tissue cultured plants must be treated on arrival in Australia. Check your import permit for any required treatments for your goods.

Please be aware that some treatments may affect the health of your plants.

Blank

As a final step, your plants may need to be grown and tested in a government post-entry quarantine (PEQ) facility or at a third-party approved arrangement site before we release them to you.

Growing the plants helps us ensure they are free of exotic pests and diseases that may cause harm if introduced into Australia.

The required growing period varies. Some plants can be grown and released within a few months, while others may need to be grown for a couple of years. Some plants will also need to be tested for certain pests or diseases.

Check your import permit for any PEQ and testing requirements.

Fees and charges

You are required to cover all associated import costs.
For information about costs relating to:

  • import permits, inspections, testing and PEQ at the government facility, check our charging guidelines
  • PEQ in a third-party facility, contact the approved arrangement site operator
  • fumigation, contact your fumigation provider
  • phytosanitary certification, contact your supplier or the exporting country National Plant Protection Organisation.

How we manage pests

Learn how we work with you, domestic growers and the community to protect Australia from pests in imported plants.

Check out our bite-sized biosecurity videos. Each explores ways we work at the border to prevent the arrival of exotic plant pests.

Stay informed

Make sure you’re aware of all your responsibilities for importing goods to Australia.

Need help?

Email the Imports team or call 1800 900 090.

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip
Page last updated: 13 June 2023

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram