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Department of Agriculture

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  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Import
  4. Importing goods
  5. Plants and plant products
  6. Cut flowers and foliage

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
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      • Approved sources of Phalaenopsis
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    • 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
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      • Treatments for timber and timber products
        • Timber permanent preservative treatment requirements
          • Approved timber permanent preservative formulations
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      • 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 cut flowers and foliage

You must comply with import conditions for cut flowers and foliage. Do this before you ship them to Australia.

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

Explore topics:

  • Fresh cut flowers and foliage for personal use
  • Fresh cut flowers and foliage for commercial use
  • Dried or preserved flowers and foliage
  • How we manage pests
  • Stay informed
  • Need help?

Fresh cut flowers and foliage for personal use

If you’re arriving in Australia on an aircraft or a cruise ship you can bring fresh cut flowers into Australia.
You can bring up to 6:

  • small (shoebox sixed) boxes
  • florist packages
  • bouquets.

You must declare all flowers and foliage on your incoming passenger card. They will be inspected on arrival at the Australian border.

Knowing the scientific or common name of the flowers or foliage will help ensure your goods can be cleared more quickly.  

If live pests are found we will need to identify the pest and may need the flowers to be treated before releasing them to you. You will be responsible for any costs.

Fresh cut flowers and foliage for commercial use

Only cut flowers that we verify as free from pests can enter Australia.

Before you ship your goods, you will need to:

  • know the scientific name of the flowers or foliage, commonly referred to as the botanical name (genus and species)
  • complete pre-export treatments
  • gather all required documents
  • pay any fees or charges.

See our guide to importing fresh cut flowers and foliage for commercial use.

Dried or preserved flowers or foliage

All dried and preserved cut flowers and foliage must be inspected on arrival to verify that they are free from exotic pests and diseases and ensure that they are dried or preserved and are not fresh.
Check the import conditions and whether you will need an import permit in our Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).

How we manage pests

See how we manage pests in cut flowers (offshore and on arrival).

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.

See current announcements for importers of plant and plant products.

Need help?

Email the Imports team or call 1800 900 090.

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

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Page last updated: 13 November 2020

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.

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