Western Australia’s seed import requirements

Introduction

Western Australia is free from a number of serious plant pests, diseases and weeds which are present elsewhere in Australia, such as sorghum midge, mango seed weevil, nodding thistle and horsetails. If introduced into Western Australia many of these pests, diseases and weeds would be potentially devastating to agricultural and horticultural industries through loss of production, extra production costs and reduced access to export markets.

It is for these reasons that conditions are in place for the interstate movement of plants and plant products such as fruits, seeds, cuttings, and other plant parts. Imported consignments must be presented for inspection to Quarantine WA upon arrival in Western Australia.

Quarantine WA undertakes inspection and surveillance services for the import and export of Quarantine Risk Material (QRM) with the aid of Quarantine detector dogs, X-ray equipment, a container declaration system and random container inspections.

Consignments are inspected by quarantine inspectors at premises approved through Quarantine WA. Quarantine WA objectives are to prevent the introduction and establishment of exotic plants, animal pests and diseases, by effectively regulating the risk pathways associated with interstate movement and trade.

On the pages that follow you will find information on:

• Seed import requirements – these requirements are subject to change. Regular verification of current requirements is recommended, to check seed import requirements please visit the Quarantine WA Import Requirements Search webpage.
• Approved Seed Testing Laboratories in Australia and overseas.
• Seed mixes and blends.
• Summary of restricted seed types.

For additional information, please contact: Quarantine WA Seeds Officer

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Level 1, 24 Fricker Road, WA 6105
Tel: +61 (0)8 9334 1800; Fax: +61 (0)8 9334 1888
Email: QWA_SeedsOffice@dpird.wa.gov.au

(see Interstate quarantine services contact list)

Western Australia's seed import requirements

Seed must be of a permitted species

To check the Western Australian Organisms List (WAOL), which includes seed, contact the Quarantine WA Seeds Officer or visit Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development WAOL web pages.

On arrival in Western Australia, consignments of seed should be accompanied by an original Seed Analysis Certificate (Bulk Search), identifying the genus and species of the seed and seed contaminants, issued by one of the following:

• A Seed Certification Scheme approved by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (or equivalent) in the State or Territory of origin; or
• An inspector authorised by the exporting State or Territory’s quarantine authority certifying that seed has been sampled and analysed by an approved laboratory in accordance with the standards prescribed by the International Seed Testing Association. See the list of the approved seed testing laboratories; or
• A person approved under a quality assurance arrangement. Contact the Quarantine WA Quality Assurance Officer, on telephone
  +61 (0)8 9334 1800 or fax +61 (0)8 9334 1888.

Note 1:  Where multiple consignments are sent from one seed lot number, a register based on the original certificate is held with Quarantine WA. This avoids a weed check for each consignment. Such consignments are subject to inspections on arrival into WA – inspection fees apply.

Note 2:  Certification can be checked prior to export by faxing or emailing certificates to the Quarantine WA Seeds Officer – document inspection fees apply. You will be advised of any problems. If consignments arrive into Western Australia with incorrect or no certification, consignment(s) will be subject to sampling and analysis on arrival. If requirements are not met, the consignment may be subject to re-export, seizure, or destruction. Inspection fees and all costs associated with bulk search seed analysis, destruction or re-export of consignment apply.

Note 3:  Treatment Certificates are valid only for 21 days from date of issue.

Note 4:  Plant Health Certificates must be the original document. Quarantine WA will only accept a copy of original Plant Health Certificate when the issuing Quarantine Inspector faxes or emails the certificate from their office to the Quarantine WA office. The Plant Health Certificate must be endorsed as follows: ‘This is a true and original copy’ and signed and dated by the issuing inspector.

Note 5:  Plant Health Certificates are only valid for 21 days from date of certification

On arrival in Western Australia the seed must be accompanied by an original Plant Health Certificate issued by an inspector from the exporting State or Territory’s quarantine authority, or a person authorised under an approved quality assurance arrangement, verifying that the seed meets the prescribed pest and disease freedom requirements.

See summary of restricted seed types.

Seed must be free from pests and diseases of quarantine significance

All consignments are inspected on arrival.

Seed packaging and inspection requirements

1. Certified as inspected to ISTA standards:  

As per current procedures, the exporting company supplies a Bulk Search Analysis certificate from an ISTA accredited laboratory and an inspection for pests, diseases, and soil will be conducted upon arrival (W01 inspection fees applies).

2. For retail packs of vegetable, fruit and ornamental seed 50 gm and under:

Document verification still be undertaken by a QWA inspector (i.e. Check species to ensure permitted on WAOL; W17 document inspection fee applies); Random physical inspections conducted upon arrival.

3. Seed lots less than or equal to 10 kg in weight OR seed lots containing seed greater than 8 mm in diameter (Pelleted and blended seed excluded):

Inspection upon arrival will be conducted without the need for a Bulk Search Analysis certificate (W01 inspection fee applies).  If contamination is found, a sample will be drawn in accordance with ISTA procedures and submitted to a DPIRD approved seed purity testing laboratory.  All costs charged to the importer.

Note: Seed blends and pelleted seeds are not able to be inspected for non-permitted seed contamination.

Seed must be presented to Quarantine WA on arrival

The prescribed inspection points are the first point of entry into WA. For further information please contact the Seeds Officer. The inspection involves ensuring the above requirements are met and that the consignment details match any certification.

Overseas import requirements

Seed imports from overseas must also meet the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry quarantine import requirements.

To contact the Commonwealth Department of  Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry call 1800 900 090.
Email: waimports@agriculture.gov.au

Genetically modified seed - Quarantine WA import requirements still apply 

Genetically modified seed that is sent from interstate sources into Western Australia still must be inspected by Quarantine WA inspectors to ensure that it meets legislated Western Australian import requirements.

Note: The Commonwealth Government Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, Transport Regulations for the movement of Genetically Modified Organisms and applicable licence conditions must be followed, when consigning genetically modified seed into Western Australia.

For further information visit their website ogtr.gov.au or telephone 1800 181 030.

Approved seed testing laboratories in Australia

DDLS - Seeds Testing and Certification
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia
3 Baron-Hay Court
South Perth WA 6151
Contact:
Tel: +61 (0)8 9368 3844
Email: ddls-stac@dpird.wa.gov.au

ISTA certificates issued by the laboratories below must be an Orange International Seed Lot Certificate

Seed mixes

Seed mixes “that do not contain restricted seeds” require a Seed Analysis Certificate to accompany the consignment (see approved seed laboratories).

Seed mixes “containing restricted seeds” are also to be accompanied by a valid Plant Heath Certificate, for restricted seeds (see summary of restricted seed types).

All seed mixes are not subject to International Seed Testing Association requirements for bulk search weights. Instead Quarantine WA (QWA) utilises world best practise by following the Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA), method as outlined below:

• The seed supplier must advise the sampler of the components of the mixture and the relative percentage of each type of seed in the mix.
• This information must be supplied to the seed testing laboratory together with the sample, which must be drawn by an accredited sampler.
• It is recommended that the sample provided to the laboratory is at least 1 kg to ensure a sufficient sample is drawn.
• The Bulk Search Weight (BSW) of the mixture is to be calculated by allocating a corresponding proportion of the scheduled BSW for each seed type to the total BSW for the sample (see example below).
• The seed testing laboratory shall annotate the component percentages as advised by the client on the Seed Analysis Certificate so QWA can verify the BSW was sufficient, together with a listing of non-component seeds found (if any).

​See example below:

Example - Calculating the Bulk Search Weight (BSW) of a seed mixed consignment

Maximum lot size of mixed seed consignments

The maximum lot size for a mixed seed consignment shall be determined by the ISTA maximum lot size of each component apportioned to correspond with the percentage of the mixture represented by that component. See example below:

Example - Calculating the maximum lot size for a mixed seed consignment

Additional requirements for seed with altered lot codes or other descriptions, such as coated or blended seeds

A statutory declaration is to be made on the exporting company’s letterhead by a responsible officer of that company containing the following information:

• Detail of original lot code and seed name/type.
• Detail of new lot code and seed name/type.
• For blends: details of each component in the seed mix/blend including individual lot codes and names and percentages.
• For coated seed: details of the increase in lot weight (if any).
• Name of person making the declaration, their position and signature plus date of issue.

Summary of restricted seed types

* Important note: To be certified on a Plant Health Certificate from the exporting state or territory or under an approved WA quality assurance scheme.

Quarantine inspection services - contacts

ACT - Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate - Environment
13 22 81

NSW - Department of Primary Industries, +61(0)2 6391 3100

NT -     Department of Primary Industry and Resources , +61 (0)8 8999 2118 | quarantine@nt.gov.au

QLD - Department of Agriculture and Fisheries,+61 (0) 7 3404 6999 | callweb@daff.qld.gov.au

SA -     Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, +61 (0)8 8207 7900 | pirsa.planthealth@sa.gov.au

TAS - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania +61 (0)3 6777 2146 | biosecurity.tasmania@dpipwe.tas.gov.au

VIC - Agriculture Victoria, 13 61 86 | plant.standards@agriculture.vic.gov.au