Quarantine (Plants) Regulations

These regulations protect Australian agriculture by strictly controlling the import of plants, seeds, timber, and packing materials to prevent foreign pests and diseases from entering the country.

What importers must do:

• Give notice: Submit a declaration (on special coloured paper) before landing plants or timber
• Pay fees: Inspection and fumigation fees are charged based on weight, package counts, or time (see Schedule 2)
• Obtain permits: Quarantine officers issue coloured permits for delivery, quarantine entry, or release

Quarantine powers:

• Goods may be ordered into quarantine stations for inspection, treatment, or destruction
• Packing materials containing soil, straw, or vegetable matter must be destroyed or fumigated
• Importers bear all costs for cartage, labour, and treatment

Special rules for high-risk items:

• Bananas from Fiji: Need a certificate proving they're disease-free
• Potatoes: Must be grown for one full season in quarantine to prove they're free of blight before release
• Cotton seed: Requires Ministerial permission and dry-heat treatment at 145°F for one hour
• Peanuts in shell: Need Ministerial permission and must be roasted at 115°C for one hour under supervision