20 October 2026
Who does this notice affect?
This notice affects importers of live plants (nursery stock), customs brokers and departmental staff.
What is changing?
As previously notified via IIAN 111-2026, updated import conditions for plant genera regulated for Xylella imported as nursery stock are commencing on 20 January 2027.
The changes:
- affect plant genera that can host Xylella, imported into Australia as nursery stock.
- are being made in line with the department’s final pest risk analysis report for bacterial pathogens in the genus Xylella.
Action required:
Importers and brokers should familiarise themselves with these changes, and work with offshore suppliers and exporters to meet the new requirements. This includes ensuring that laboratories conducting Xylella testing are authorised by the department, and ensuring a registration form is lodged by the laboratory in advance.
Consignments certified on or after 20 January 2027 that do not meet the updated requirements may be subject to disposal or export from Australia.
Key changes
1. Host plants from high-risk Xylella countries/regions
High-risk Xylella countries or regions currently include all countries in the Americas (including the Caribbean), all countries in Europe, China, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Taiwan and Türkiye.
Changes will include:
- for tissue culture imports, mother plant testing will replace mother tissue culture testing before lines are established *
- updated plant sampling and approved PCR testing protocols, incorporating defined Ct (cycle threshold) cut-off values for test result reporting
- a requirement for laboratory test reports to accompany phytosanitary certificates for offshore tested tissue cultures
- a requirement that offshore Xylella testing is conducted by a laboratory authorised by Australia
- updated additional declaration statements on phytosanitary certificates issued for offshore tested tissue cultures, attesting to the updated test protocols and requirements
- removal of hot water treatment and offshore National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) approved arrangements for non-tissue culture imports.
* The department will observe a transition period between 20 January 2027 – 27 April 2028, during which testing of either mother tissue cultures or mother plants will be accepted. Over this period, all testing and certification must comply with all other updated testing protocols and requirements.
2. Host plants from low-risk Xylella countries
Changes will include:
- updated additional declaration statements on phytosanitary certificates to verify that imported plants, and the mother plants from which they were derived, were sourced from low-risk countries.
Impact on import permits
The department will contact affected permit holders prior to 20 January 2027 to vary import permits in line with the changes, at no cost to permit holders.
Further information
Full details are located in the following webpages:
- Upcoming import conditions for Xylella host nursery stock
- Registration form to become a department-authorised Xylella testing laboratory
For enquiries, contact Plant Import Operations via email at imports@aff.gov.au (include ‘Plant T2 – Xylella’ in the subject line of the email) or by phone on 1800 900 090.