Seeds & Plants → Australia

Prohibited without import permit and phytosanitary certificate

Details

Australia has extremely strict biosecurity controls on plant material. Seeds, bulbs, cuttings, and live plants require both an import permit from the Department of Agriculture and a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country. Most personal imports are refused. Enforcement in Australia carries fines from AUD 66,600 to AUD 1,665,000 and imprisonment up to 10 years in aggravated cases under Customs Act 1901 s.233A; Criminal Code Act 1995 Part 9.1. Leaving Australia with seeds & plants is a separate question — restricted: Seeds and live plants exported from Australia need phytosanitary certification for most destinations; casual carriage is routinely seized on arrival.

Documentation required

• Import permit
• Phytosanitary certificate

Legal reference

Biosecurity Act 2015

Leaving with this item

Seeds and live plants exported from Australia need phytosanitary certification for most destinations; casual carriage is routinely seized on arrival.

Practical advice

Do not bring seeds or plant material to Australia without pre-arranged permits. Items found undeclared will be confiscated and fines applied.

Customs authority

Australian Border Force (ABF) · https://www.abf.gov.au