Import conditions for fresh solanaceous fruit and vegetables purchased in Western Australia and imported into the Indian Ocean Territories (IOT) of Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands have changed.
The department has implemented new conditions that only apply to the following fresh fruit and vegetables for human consumption:
- Capsicum
- Cape Gooseberry
- Chillies
- Eggplant
- Pepino (Melon Pear)
- Tamarillo
- Tomatillo
- Tomato (including cherry tomatoes)
These conditions are in place to reduce the likelihood of the spread of tomato-potato psyllid (TPP).
Import conditions
Fresh solanaceous produce into the IOT from Western Australia may be imported under one of the following options:
- Goods must be commercially produced and sourced from a retail store.
Each consignment must be accompanied by an invoice or receipt which includes the name of the retail source as evidence of where the goods were purchased. Goods without sufficient evidence of the place of purchase will be exported back to the port of origin or disposed of.
Note: Produce is not permitted if sourced from backyard gardens or directly from farmers’ markets, or if there is insufficient proof of purchase.
- Goods must be commercially produced and fumigated with methyl bromide at one of the following rates prior to shipment:
|
Temperature |
Minimum initial dose |
Exposure period |
|---|---|---|
|
21°C or above |
32 g/m³ |
2 hours |
|
16 °C to 20.9 °C |
40 g/m³ |
2 hours |
|
11 °C to 15.9 °C |
48 g/m³ |
2 hours |
|
10 °C to 10.9 °C |
56 g/m³ |
2 hours |
Note: Fumigation is not permitted if the ambient minimum temperature falls below 10 °C.
To demonstrate compliance with this requirement, importers must present an acceptable fumigation certificate at the time of clearance.
An acceptable fumigation certificate must include:
- Details of the treatment (including dosage, fumigant, temperature and duration)
- A description and quantity of the items treated
- The date of fumigation
- The name of the fumigation facility
- A plastic wrap declaration containing one of the following statements:
- Plastic wrapping has not been used in this consignment; or
- This consignment has been fumigated before application of plastic wrapping; or
- Plastic wrapping used in this consignment conforms to the Wrapping and Perforation Standard as found in the Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme (AFAS) fumigation requirements.
Note: Fumigated product must be protected from pest contamination at all times during transport or movement. It is the responsibility of the importer to ensure biosecurity measures are maintained.
Packaging requirements
All solanaceous produce must be securely packaged (fully enclosed) using a secure packaging option.
The following are examples of acceptable packaging:
- cartons/packages
- zip lock plastic bags
- zipped cooler bags
- esky, or other suitable enclosed container.
On arrival verification
Each consignment will be subject to inspection on arrival in IOT by a biosecurity officer to verify compliance with import conditions before release.
The importer must present goods that are free from:
- insects of biosecurity concern to IOT that are not mitigated by biosecurity management measures; and
- disease symptoms; and
- trash (for example, loose stem and leaf material, seeds, soil, animal matter/parts or other extraneous material) and foreign matter.
Produce transiting through Western Australia
Produce grown and packed outside of Western Australia may ‘transit’ through Western Australia to IOT provided it remains secure in original packaging. Importers must provide us with information on the source, and the type of packaging used for approval prior to shipment.
All consignments are subject to inspection on arrival in IOT to verify compliance with import conditions prior to release.
Download the factsheet
Contacts
For more information, contact our Christmas Island office on (08) 9164 7456 or email Christmas.Island@agriculture.gov.au or IOT@agriculture.gov.au
Secure packaging options
Goods may be packed as per the following secure packaging options:
- Integral cartons - produce may be packed in integral (fully enclosed) cartons (packages) with boxes having no ventilation holes and lids tightly fixed to the bases.
- Ventilation holes of cartons covered - cartons (packages) with ventilation holes must have the holes covered/sealed with a mesh/screen of no more than 1.6 mm pore size and not less than 0.16 mm strand thickness. Alternatively, the vent holes could be taped over.
- Polythene liners - vented cartons (packages) with sealed polythene liners/bags within are acceptable (folded polythene bags are acceptable).
Acceptable packaging
1. Above: Examples of some suitable secure packaging types
2. Above: Examples of suitable secure resuable packaging options. Note: where goods are purchased loose from retail store shelves, the goods must also be contained inside a retail store plastic bag similar to Point 4 below.
3. Above: Clean cardboard or Styrofoam sealable boxes/cartons with or without internal plastic wrapping
4. Above: Goods contained in plastic bags that are tied with a knot or fastener may be packed inside a variety of passenger type luggage.
5. Above: Any cartons used must be clean