Import Conditions Database - ICON

These conditions only apply to articles and equipment used in fresh water in overseas countries listed in C17542 which may be contaminated with Didymo (Didymosphenia geminata or rock snot). For import conditions for countries not in these regions, refer to ICON case for the relevant commodity.

The following conditions apply to articles or equipment that have been exposed to freshwater lakes and streams overseas. These items are subject to inspection to determine that the goods are:

1. clean and free from visible clumps of algae.

2. completely dry – no evidence of moisture being present on the surface of the item or within the materials from which the item is made (including components).

Importers should ensure that all items exposed to overseas freshwater rivers, lakes and streams are thoroughly cleaned to remove any algal clumps, and be completely dried for inspection in Australia. Should the inspection be unable to determine that the item meets these requirements, treatment of the articles or equipment is required at the importer’s expense.

Freshwater articles and equipment from all countries presented at the border must be fully drained, free of reservoirs of water, and must be completely dry.

Articles and equipment not complying with these requirements or those articles that cannot be inspected to verify that they are clean and completely dry will be required to undergo the following mandatory treatments:

Risk material	Examples	Required treatments
Highly porous items from Didymo regions	fishing bags (cloth), rope/fishing nets (non-nylon/plastic), knee guards, gaiters (cloth)	Chemical, physical or combined chemical and physical methods (see condition 11A below, treatments (a) — (h).
Medium porous items from Didymo regions	Wetsuits, neoprene socks, felt soled shoes/waders, buoyancy vests, spray decks/skirts, soft foam handles, hiking boots	Physical treatments or combined chemical and physical methods (see condition 11B below, treatments (d) — (h).
Non-porous items that can hold water from Didymo regions	kayaks (seats, nooks and crannies), kayak paddles	Physical treatments only are recommended (condition 11C below, treatments (d) — (g).)
Other non-porous items from Didymo regions	None of the above	Chemical treatments (including spray on treatments) physical or combined chemical and physical methods (see condition 11D below, treatments (a) — (h).
Vessels imported as cargo from Didymo regions	Yachts and boats	See condition 12 below. Vessels sailed in to Australia are exempt from Didymo conditions
Items from regions not known to host Didymo		As necessary to mitigate any other Quarantine risk with standing water, such as mosquitoes

Non-Commercial

1. The conditions under the Commercial section apply.

2. To assist with the quarantine clearance process, travellers should ensure that all equipment is thoroughly cleaned and completely dry prior to arrival in Australia.

Commercial

1. An Import Permit is not required.

2. Each consignment must be inspected on arrival for visible signs of algae and dampness or residual water. In all cases, any Didymo clumps detected during inspection should be removed and disposed of as quarantine waste. The goods must then undergo mandatory treatment as outlined in the table above.

3. All articles need to be assessed, regardless of visual signs. Determine which category the goods fall under for the AQIS assessment procedure and treatment required using the Didymo risk table above.

4. Each consignment must be free of live insects seeds, soil, mud, clay, animal faeces, animal material, plant material such as straw, twigs, leaves, roots, bark and other debris prior to arrival in Australia (Refer conditions 8, 9 & 10). To assist with the quarantine clearance process, travellers should ensure that all equipment is cleaned, dried and not wet to touch prior to arrival in Australia.

5. Quarantine risk material, including prohibited, restricted or unidentified seeds, found on inspection by AQIS will require one of the following treatments at certified premises at the importers expense:

a) gamma irradiation at 50 kGray (5 Mrad) (T9652);
b) ethylene oxide under initial minimal vacuum of 50 kilopascals at 1500g/m³ for 24 hours at 21°C (T9020);
c) formaldehyde fumigation (10% formalin) for 4 hours (T9263);
d) re-export; or
e) destruction by incineration or deep burial.

6. If live insects are found on inspection they will be sent for identification immediately by an AQIS entomologist. The goods will be treated as required at the importer’s expense, or ordered for methyl bromide fumigation at 32g/m3 for 24 hours at 21°C, (T9047), unless Khapra beetle is suspected. If Khapra beetle is detected, order the goods for fumigation with methyl bromide at 80g/m3 for 48hours at 21°C

7. If other contaminants such as soil or giant African snails are found on inspection by AQIS, the consignment must be held and the contaminants removed or treated by an AQIS approved method if possible, otherwise the goods must be re-exported or destroyed at the importer’s expense.

8. Containers, timber packing, pallets or dunnage associated with the consignment will be subject to inspection and treatment on arrival, unless certified as having been treated by an AQIS approved method (Refer to the AQIS publication ‘Cargo Containers: Quarantine aspects and procedures’).

9. For used boats with timber components, in addition to this case, refer to “Boats and yachts with Timber Components”.

10. For fishing flies, in addition to this case refer to “Fishing Fly”.

11.If AQIS has a high degree of confidence that the items are completely dry and there are no visible signs of algae, the items may be released from quarantine without treatment. Otherwise, the following treatments will be required at a Quarantine Approved Premises (QAP) at the importers expense:

A. Highly porous articles (see table above: chemical, physical and combined chemical/physical treatments):

i. Chemical treatments

Chemical treatment may be achieved by soaking in one of the following decontamination solutions for a period of 1 min:

(a) Immerse in water with a 1% Virkon solution (T10003);

(b) Immerse in water with a 5% solution of salt, nappy cleaner, antiseptic cleaner or dishwashing detergent for at least 1 minute (T9998);

(c)Saturation with 2% household bleach (T9997);

ii. Physical treatments

(d) Complete immersion in hot water maintained above 45°C for 40 minutes once the core temperature of 45°C has been reached (T10007);

(e) Hot air at 45°C maintained for 40 minutes after the core temperature of 45°C has been reached – note that it may take several hours to achieve core temperature (T10012);

(f) Storage at -18°C for 24 hours (T10009);

(g) Gamma irradiation at 25 kGray (T9651)

iii. Combined physical and chemical treatment

(h) All surfaces must be completely immersed for 30 minutes in hot water maintained at or above 45°C, containing 2% dishwashing detergent or nappy cleaner (T10008)

B. Items of Medium Porosity (see table above: physical and combined chemical/physical treatments)

ii. Physical treatments:

(d) Complete immersion in hot water maintained above 45°C for 40 minutes once the core temperature of 45°C has been reached (T10007);

(e) Hot air at 45°C maintained for 40 minutes after the core temperature of 45°C has been reached – note that it may take several hours to achieve core temperature (T10012);

(f) Storage at -18°C for 24 hours (T10009);

(g) Gamma irradiation at 25 kGray (T9651)

iii. Combined physical and chemical treatment

(h) All surfaces must be completely immersed for 30 minutes in hot water maintained at or above 45°C, containing 2% dishwashing detergent or nappy cleaner (T10008)

Note: chemical treatments alone are not recommended as the penetration of treatment solutions into these articles is not reliable.

C. Non-porous bulky items that can hold water (see table above: physical treatments only)

ii. Physical treatments:

(d) Complete immersion in hot water maintained above 45°C for 40 minutes once the core temperature of 45°C has been reached (T10007);

(e) Hot air at 45°C maintained for 40 minutes after the core temperature of 45°C has been reached – note that it may take several hours to achieve core temperature (T10012);

(f) Storage at -18°C for 24 hours (T10009);

(g) Gamma irradiation at 25 kGray (T9651)

Note: In this category, chemical and combined physical and chemical treatments are not considered appropriate as it is not possible to reach and treat all areas that may be contaminated with the decontaminating solution. In cases where it is difficult to determine whether water may or may not be present, treatment options may need to be discussed with the Inspections team, Sea Cargo Unit in Canberra. In extreme cases of water contamination the article may need to be exported at Importer’s expense if appropriate treatment is unlikely to be successful.

D. Other non-porous items (chemical, physical and a combination chemical/physical treatment

i. Chemical treatments

Chemical treatment may be achieved by soaking in one of the following decontamination solutions for a period of 1 min:

(a) Immerse in water with a 1% Virkon solution (T10003);

(b) Immerse in water with a 5% solution of salt, nappy cleaner, antiseptic cleaner or dishwashing detergent for at least 1 minute (T9998);

Note: Non porous items requiring treatment may be sprayed with the decontaminating solution instead of soaking, providing the article remains wet with decontaminating solution for the entire treatment time of one minute.

ii. Physical treatments

(d) Complete immersion in hot water maintained above 45°C for 40 minutes once the core temperature of 45°C has been reached (T10007);

(e) Hot air at 45°C maintained for 40 minutes after the core temperature of 45°C has been reached – note that it may take several hours to achieve core temperature (T10012);

(f) Storage at -18°C for 24 hours (T10009);

(g) Gamma irradiation at 25 kGray (T9651)

iii. Combined physical and chemical treatment

(h) All surfaces must be completely immersed for 30 minutes in hot water maintained at or above 45°C, containing 2% dishwashing detergent or nappy cleaner (T10008)

12. Boats and yachts – imported as cargo

If AQIS has inspected the hull of the vessel and has a high degree of confidence that the hull is completely dry and has no visible signs of any algae, treatment of the hull is not required for potential Didymo contamination. If found to be wet, the hull must be treated at a quarantine approved premise and at the importers expense, by one of the following methods;

a) thorough spraying with, or immersion in, a decontamination solution ensuring a minimum contact time with all surfaces of 1 minute (T9998 or T9997); or

b) thorough spraying with, or immersion in, 1% Virkon solution for a minimum of 1 minute (T10003).

All other items on the vessel (eg ropes, nets, buoyancy vests etc) are to be inspected and treated as per the relevant category outlined in condition 11.

NOTE: AQIS advises that some of the treatments above (i.e. Gamma Irradiation at 25kGray (T9651) and freezing at -18°C for 24 hours (T10009)) may have adverse effects on some goods and it is the importer’s responsibility to ensure that they have taken steps to validate which treatment option would be appropriate for decontamination of their belongings.

	Commodity:	Fresh Water Articles and Equipment - Used

	Scientific name:

	Country:	All countries

	End use:	All uses other than as animal foods, fertilisers or for growing purposes

	Date printed:	Jul 31 2010

	Commodity
	From country
	For end use