Update December 2020
Please note that due to a current backlog in the assessment of ex-agar facility applications, the review of existing facilities and other priorities, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry advises that assessments for new facilities will be delayed. New applicants are advised that assessments will likely take a minimum of twelve months to finalise once all required information is received.
What is a tissue culture free of media approved source?
An offshore facility approved by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to export tissue cultures free of media to Australia. Facilities not listed as an approved source cannot export tissue cultures free of media to Australia.
What is the approval process?
To be approved, a facility must supply details of their facility and operational procedures to the department. The department conducts a desk audit taking into account how the tissue cultures are propagated, packaged and screened for diseases prior to export as well as other aspects including, the security and sanitation of the facility. In addition, the overseas National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) must inspect the facility to provide the department with an assurance that the facility is sanitary, well maintained and producing high health tissue cultured plants. In some cases, verification visits may be required prior to approval.
Please note that the department undertakes assessment of facilities on a case-by-case basis. For this reason assessment times vary and additional information may be required before the assessment can be finalised. Assessments need to be balanced against other higher work priorities, in particular responding to emerging biosecurity risk.
If you would like to become an approved source of tissue cultures free of media please contact Plant Import Operations 1800 900 090 or email.
How long is the facility approved for?
Approved facilities will be reviewed by the department every two years to ensure that the ownership and operational procedures remain unchanged, and that the company wishes to retain their approval to export tissue cultures free of media to Australia.
If you would like to be removed from the tissue culture free of media approved source list please contact Plant Import Operations 1800 900 090 or email.
All tissue cultures will continue to be monitored and inspected at the Australian border. The department reserves the right to revoke or suspend the approval status of any facility that fails to meet Australia's import requirements. Reinstatement of the facility is subject to an investigation to identify cause/s of non-compliance and an application of corrective action/s and a report of this is provided, by the relevant NPPO, to the department for consideration. An audit visit may be required prior to reinstatement.
Summary of import conditions for tissue cultures free of media:
- The facility producing the tissue cultures must be a department approved source.
- The tissue cultures must be free from any bacterial or fungal infection, live insects and any other extraneous contamination of biosecurity concern.
- Tissue cultures must be aseptically transferred from growth media to sterile containers/tissue culture bags under supervision.
- The tissue cultures must be contained in sealed, sterile containers/tissue culture bags that prevent the passage of organisms and contamination into and out of the containers.
- The tissue culture containers/bags must be visually clear in construction so as to allow for the on arrival inspection by the Biosecurity Officer.
- The consignment must be accompanied by a Phytosanitary certificate containing the following declaration:
“Prior to the removal of the plant tissue from media, the tissue cultures were inspected and found to be free of contamination. The plant tissue was aseptically transferred under supervision to sterile containers which were then sealed and not subsequently re-opened”.
Note: Importers must hold a valid import permit and check specific import requirements for species they wish to import. The department also recommends that approved facilities regularly check Australian import requirements. Import conditions are publicly available on the Biosecurity Imports Conditions (BICON).
Department approved sources of tissue cultures free of media
Source | Address | Country |
---|---|---|
Foshan Sanshui Youngplants Co. Ltd | Bagang village, Lubao town, Sanshui District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province 528139 |
China |
Kunming Hasfarm Young Plants Ltd. | Ha Hou Village, Xiao Jie Town, Song Ming County, Kun Min City | China |
Shanghai Mother Earth Horticulture Seedlings Co. Ltd | 4716 Hunan Rd., Nanhui, Shanghai | China |
Sunshine Horticulture Co. Ltd | North Sunshine Road, Shuangyang Town, Luojiang, Quanzhou, Fujian | China |
Twyford International Inc | 100 mts Oeste del Super La Canastita, La Guacima de Alajuela, Apartado 429-4005, San Antonio de Belen, Heredia | Costa Rica |
Bock Bio Science GmbH | Butemdieker, Landstrasse 49A, D-2800 Bremen 33 | Germany |
Wolfgang Bock | Butemdieker, Landstrasse 49A, D-28357 Bremen | Germany |
Ankur Biotech | B60b, KSSIDC Industrial Area, Industrial Estate Bommasandra, Anekal Taluk, Bangalore 560 099 | India |
Bangalore Horti Tech | No.19/1, Near Gullahalli gate, Sidlaghatta Road, Sulibele Hobli, Hoskote Taluk, Bangalore Rural - 562122 | India |
Growmore Biotech Ltd | 41-B, Sipcot Phase-II, Hosur – 635 103 (TN) | India |
K.F. Bioplants Pvt Ltd | Sr. No. 129/1 to 3 C, Manjri (BK) Tal: Haveli, Dist Pune 412307, (MH) |
India |
L.J. International Ltd | Plot No. 10 & 11, C. S. E Z, Kakkanad, Cochin-30 | India |
Lowes TCI Tissue Culture (India) Private Limited | 12/44, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar Bommanahalli, Bangalore - 560068 |
India |
Plantek International | 23 Pattanagere, Next to Global Village, Rajarajeswary nagar, Bangalore 560 098 | India |
Plantek International | Unit #2 171/1 Arasinakunte, Near rural police station, Nelamangala, Tumkur Road, Bangalore 562 123 | India |
Rise n' Shine Biotech Pvt. Ltd. | 301/2, Metro House, Mangaldas Road, Pune | India |
PT. Bambu Nusa Verde | Jl. Mangunan, Tebonan, Harjobinangun, Pakem, Sleman, Yogyakarta 55585 | Indonesia |
PT Monfori Nusantara | Jl. Raya Jampang Karihkil Km. 4, Desa Tegal Kemang, Parung-Bogor 16310 | Indonesia |
PT Tamora Stekindo | Jl. Sultan Serdang d/h Jl. Batangkuis, Desa Telaga Sari, Gang Pantai Rantam No. 8, Tanjung Morawa, Medan, 20362, North Sumatera | Indonesia |
Gadera Ltd | Unit 1, IDA Industrial Estate, Dublin Road, Enniscorthy, Co, Wexford | Ireland |
GroAsia Biotech Sdn Bhd | No. 46, Lorong Bakap Indah 1, Taman Bakap Indah, 14200 Sungai Bakap, Penang | Malaysia |
Malesiana Tropicals | Lot 8 Jalan Jugan-Buso, Buso 94000, Kuching Sarawak | Malaysia |
Micro Pro Orchids | No. 929, Lorong Desa Makmur 3/5, Taman Desa Makmur, 09600 Lunas, Kedah | Malaysia |
Lifetech Laboratories Ltd | 224 Albany Highway, Albany Auckland 0632 | New Zealand |
Vitroflora Philippines Inc. | Purok-6 Brgy Hamorawon, Calbayog City, Western Samar, 6710 | Philippines |
Vitroflora | Laboratorium Kultur Tkankowych, Karol Pawlak, ul. Bukowa 3, 86-065 Łochowo | Poland |
R&S Tissue Culture Laboratories (Pty) Ltd. | FritzGrub Crescent, Riversdale, Western Cape, South Africa, 6670 | South Africa |
Royal Van Zanten | Portion 375 Farm, Zoutpansdrift (along R511), Thabazunbi Road, Brits 0250 | South Africa |
Perfect Plants (PTY) Ltd. | No. 4, Bloemhof Road, Philippi 7750, Cape Town, South Africa, 7808 | South Africa |
Borneo Exotics (Pvt) Limited | Sandigiri Farm, "Old Colony", Palmerston Junction, Lindula, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
Eco-Serene Biotech (Pvt) Ltd. | Kolongasyaya Estate, Matiyagane, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
Hayleys Agro Biotech (Pvt) Ltd | 400 Dean Road, Colombo-10 | Sri Lanka |
Mike Biotech Asia (pvt) | No. 65/13, Orchid Place, Off Swarnadisi Place, Koswatta, Nawala, Rajagiriya | Sri Lanka |
Ramya Horticulture Pvt. Ltd. | 459/1, Kandy Road, Rammuthugala, Kadawata, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
Serendib Horticulture Technologies (Pvt) Limited | Kandy Road, Kalagedihena, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
Grand Biotechnology Co., Ltd. | No. 2 Industry E. Rd. 1, Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu | Taiwan |
Eastern Green Fields Co. Ltd | 27/7 Moo 2, LiabKhlong Sam, Khlong Sam, KhlongLuang, PathumTha Ni 12120 | Thailand |
Thai Orchids Lab Co. Ltd. | 10/14-16 Moo 5, Thakham, Sampran, Nakorn Pathom 73110 | Thailand |
Florist Holland BV | Dwarsweg 15, 1424 PL De Kwakel | The Netherlands |
Perfect Plants Vitrocom BV (formally Vitrocom Holland BV) | Broekpolderlaan 40, 2675 LJ, Honselersdijk | The Netherlands |
Hudson Plant Tissue Culture | 530 Avalon Drive, Vista, CA 92084 | USA |
North American Plants, LLC | 3367 St. Joseph Road, McMinnville, Oregon, 97128 | USA |
Oglesby Plants International Inc. | 26664 SR 71 N, Altha, Florida 32421 | USA |