Seed contaminants and tolerance tables
All seed consignments imported into Australia for all end uses must meet the standards for seed contaminants and tolerances set by Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
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Importing plant products that are applied to soils and plants
Types of plant products applied to soils and plants
Plant products commonly applied to soils and plants include fertilisers, potting mixes, soil conditioners, bioremediation agents and geotextiles.
Importing plant-based animal feed
The major types of plant-based animal feed are hay, processed stockfeed, pet food, aquaculture feed and bulk grain. Learn more about importing bulk grain.
Imported animal feed poses a high biosecurity risk. It can provide a direct pathway for exotic pests and diseases that can harm humans, animals, crops and the environment.
Importing plant based food, drink and supplements
The Department of Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is responsible for managing the biosecurity risks and consumer safety requirements relating to plant based products for human consumption (food, drink, medicine and therapeutics) imported to Australia.
This is administered under two sets of legislation, each with their own separate purpose and requirements:
Managing the biosecurity risks of imported bulk grain
Government and industry share responsibility for managing the biosecurity risk associated with importing bulk grain. Risks are managed at each step of the import journey, from the offshore farm to the processing facility in Australia.
Find out how:
Importing bulk grain for stockfeed and milling
News and alerts
See latest announcements that may affect how you import plant and plant products.
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Emergency measures for Xylella
Emergency measures are currently in place to manage the risk of Xylella (Xylella fastidiosa and Xylella taiwanensis) entering Australia via imported host plants and some seed species.
Australia has transitioned emergency measures to regulate Xylella hosts at the genus level, rather than family level.
See more details of these changes.
About Xylella and its risk
Xylella is a serious plant bacteria. It affects many common plant species including:
Approved sources of Phalaenopsis spp. nursery stock from Taiwan
Phalaenopsis spp. nursery stock can be imported into Australia either as nursery stock other than tissue cultures, or as tissue cultures (please see the department’s import conditions database BICON for conditions).
Phalaenopsis spp. nursery stock other than tissue cultures can be imported from a ‘non-approved source’ or from a high health ‘approved source’.
Approved sources of tissue cultures free of media
Update October 2024
The department has finalised a review of the approved sources of tissue culture free of media with the key objective of ensuring our ongoing assurance responsibilities continue to be met.
As part of the review, the following key measures have been implemented:
Importing live plants (nursery stock)
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