Enquiry: Sent to www.agriculture.gov.au 22/8/15
Subject: Imports – bringing goods into Australia
Page: ICON
Comments:
I have reviewed the import status for some seeds I wish to buy from US. I only want to buy small packets of seed. I have checked with ICON and they are allowed in. The seed supplier is a company with an excellent reputation and specialise in heirloom varieties. As they are only small packets of garden seeds and they are listed as OK in ICON, can I simply get them posted to me? ….. I know what to look for in the way of contamination, both biological and physical.
Enquiry: Received from www.agriculture.gov.au 24/8/15
RE: Imports – bringing goods into Australia
Inquiry from the Department of Agriculture website
IMPORTANT - (ICON is now BICON: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/online-services/bicon Launch BICON.)
Thank you for your inquiry.
If ICON states that the seeds are allowed into Australia without an import permit, you can receive them by post, provided that they are:
- a) Packed in clean, new packaging, clearly labeled with the full botanical name (i.e. genus and species).
- b) Free of live insects, soil, disease symptoms, prohibited seeds, other plant material (e.g. leaf, stem material, fruit pulp, pod material, etc.), animal material (e.g. animal faeces, feathers, etc.) and any other extraneous contamination of quarantine concern.
- c) Seeds containing mixed genera or species must meet additional import requirements. Please see the following link to the Department of Agriculture’s import conditions database: Mixed Seed
- d) Not genetically modified seeds. Genetically modified seeds must be accompanied by a copy of a valid Import Permit. All applications must be forwarded to the Department of Agriculture’s Plant Programs, Canberra along with detailed information regarding the mode of genetic modification and the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) registration number.
If ICON states that the seeds require an import permit, you must apply for the import permit prior to the seeds arriving in Australia. For more information please see: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/application Airfreight or mail shipments should have all documentation (e.g. permit or permit number, invoice, manufacturer’s declarations and certification where applicable) securely attached to the outside of the package and clearly marked "Attention Quarantine". Alternatively, necessary documentation will need to be presented to the Department of Agriculture at the time of clearance.
If on inspection, the item does not meet these import conditions, it must undergo treatment (if applicable) at a cost of $75, or be re-exported at a cost of $95 to the consignee, or destroyed. The consignee will be notified by the Department of Agriculture before any action is carried out. Once payment and treatment has been completed, the items will be handed back to Australia Post for delivery. Please note this treatment fee applies to items imported via the regular postal service. Goods imported via an air express carrier may incur additional fees for inspection and/or treatment. For more information please see the following link to the Department of Agriculture webpage Air Express Carrier Fees and Charges
All mail items entering Australia are screened and if items of biosecurity concern are identified they will require inspection. It is important that all declarations on mail parcels are true and provides sufficient detail about the goods inside. Senders will receive an opportunity to list all the contents of a parcel on the Customs Declaration form available from post offices worldwide.
For further information on what goods can or cannot be brought into Australia, you may visit our website at http://www.agriculture.gov.au/travelling/cant-bring-form or our Import Conditions database (ICON) at http://apps.daff.gov.au/icon32/asp/ex_querycontent.asp. This database lists the conditions under which various commodities may be brought into Australia. Using the ICON search facility, enter the item into the ‘Commodity’ field, insert the country of manufacture or origin in the ‘From country’ field and leave ‘All End Uses’ in the ‘For end-use’ field. Then, click "search" and the database will return the results. If a Department of Agriculture Import Permit is required, or if any other specific conditions apply, ICON will specify this.
The information available on ICON is the same information that the Department of Agriculture’s clearing officers use when inspecting and clearing goods arriving into the country. I recommend that you refer to this database regularly to keep up to date with any import condition changes by the Department of Agriculture.
This was their answer in in August 2015. There have been changes, now using BICON is one of the changes.
Go into BICON as above and follow the requirements for the particular plant you are after.
Just keep in mind the Biosecurity Security people are very nice and very helpful if you need some advice or you intend on bringing in seed from outside Australia. They have a ‘contact us’ drop down menu on their website at the top. You will be surprised how good they are. It often is the difference between having your seeds making them to you, rather than being treated by irradiation and having the seed confiscated.
