Requirements for seeds for sowing to protect against khapra beetle

As of 28 April 2022, import conditions for seeds for sowing exported via all countries and arriving via all arrival modes have changed. For the full list of import conditions refer to BICON.

These conditions apply to:

• unaccompanied personal effects, baggage carried by international travellers (including crew) entering via sea or air (excluding high risk species that are banned as part of Phases 1 and 2)
• high value and low value air freight and sea freight (excluding high risk species imported for personal use as low value freight that are banned under Phase 1)

Imported seeds for sowing exported on or after 28 April 2022 from all countries via all arrival modes must be:

• inspected offshore by government official of exporting country; AND
• certified as being free from any listed species of Trogoderma (whether live, dead or exuviae) in Australia’s list of Trogoderma species of biosecurity concern.

Notes:

• Failure to comply with the above requirements may result in the export of the goods and/or the container on-arrival in Australia.
• Sea container requirements to protect against khapra beetle may apply. Refer to the sea container webpage for more detail.

Phytosanitary certification requirements

As outlined above, all imported seeds for sowing exported on or after 28 April 2022 are required to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate that includes the following additional declaration:
“Representative samples were inspected and found free from evidence of any species of Trogoderma (whether live, dead or exuviae) in Australia's list of Trogoderma species of biosecurity concern”.

Certification of pelleted or coated seed

Pelleted or coated seeds may be certified by a government official of the exporting country based on the inspection of a bare seed sample of an identified seed lot.

Where no bare seed is available, an importer may apply for an import permit through BICON. An importer will be required to submit the following information to support their application:

• details of the pelleting or coating process
• quality control processes to manage stored product pests
• other relevant information that contributes to the management of biosecurity risk.

The department will consider this information in deciding whether the biosecurity risk can be managed to an acceptable level without a phytosanitary certificate.

Goods excluded under Phase 5

The Phase 5 requirements do not apply to:

• High risk plant products that are imported for research purposes coming as low value freight (less than $1000).

OR

• Other risk plant products that are imported for research purposes arriving via all entry modes.

OR

• Seeds that will be sown in an approved arrangement site operating under a process management system approved arrangement or the Government post-entry quarantine facility at Mickleham, Victoria. Refer to BICON for information on whether your species of seed meet the criteria for this exclusion.

To demonstrate the products meet the criteria for each of these exclusions, importers must provide:

• a statement that the consignment is intended for research purposes
• the name of the facility where the research will be undertaken in Australia.

Further information

If you want to:

• import seeds for sowing into Australia, it is important that you check BICON
• receive updates on the implementation of the urgent actions register to receive BICON alerts and IANs.

For any further questions, please contact us on 1800 900 090 or via email at imports@awe.gov.au (please title the subject line of the email with ‘Plant Tier 2 – Khapra urgent actions’).