PHYTO help
Select the relevant hyperlink below for instructions on how to use PHYTO.
The PHYTO menu bar includes "PHYTO home", "search", "What's Changed" "documents", "help", "alerts" and "contacts" all of which have return links that users can select to directly move to another location within the PHYTO application. Simply click on the hyperlink to the desired section to be taken to that section.
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To perform a search click on the Search button on the PHYTO menu bar to display the search form.
A search can be performed on any one or a combination of Country, Common or Scientific name, Group or Form, Restriction text, Additional Declaration text and Treatment text.
Note: Do not use wildcards.
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Select a country by clicking on the down arrow in the Country field, and scrolling down the list, or alternatively enter the country’s code in the Code field, for example for Taiwan the code is TW.
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2.2.2 Scientific and Common Name
Enter the commodity's scientific or common name as appropriate (see Section 2.3 Generic non-scientific names) Conditions are entered into PHYTO in their commodity's scientific name, it is recommended searches be conducted using the scientific name. Do not enter both a scientific name and common name as the combination may restrict the results.
By entering a scientific name, such as 'musa', PHYTO will return a list of all commodities containing the word musa, such as musa spp, musa textilis and musaceae. If 'musa spp' is entered, PHYTO will only return results for 'musa spp'.
Similarly, by entering a common name such as strawberry, PHYTO will return a list of all commodities whose common name contains the word strawberry, such as 'fragaria spp', 'strawberry vein banding virus', etc.
To search for the common name of a commodity, enter the scientific name into the database. If uncertain of the spelling, enter a few letters for example, enter "dorsa" if uncertain how to spell 'bactrocera dorsalis'.
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Each commodity in PHYTO is entered as a scientific name of a plant, pest or disease, then categorised into a Group then a Form. Groups include, i.e. Fruit/Vegetables, Pests, Plant Products, Plants, Seeds/Grains, Soil/Packing Material/Growing Material and Timber. Forms include, for example Fruit/Vegetables - Fresh, Fruit/Vegetables - Frozen, Fruit/Vegetables - Dried, Fruit/Vegetables - Canned.
Select the Group or Form of the commodity by clicking on the down arrow in the Group or Form field, for example if the search is for fresh bananas to Japan, enter the search criteria as indicated below:
Select either a Form or a Group, if both are selected, PHYTO defaults to the Group.
Example: To obtain the entire list of conditions to export fruit and vegetables to Japan, enter only the Country and Group 'Fruit/Vegetables'. PHYTO will return all conditions for fruit and vegetables to Japan in all the different Forms, including frozen, fresh, dried and canned. The results will also return those commodities entered as All, Other, Fruit and Vegetables (see Section 2.3 Generic non-scientific names).
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2.3 Generic non-scientific names
Each commodity in PHYTO is entered as the scientific name of a plant, pest or disease. However, several generic names have been entered into PHYTO, including:
- Where there is a single condition for say all fruit and vegetables to a country, the commodity's scientific name is entered as All.
- Where specific conditions for say Ananas spp, Solanum spp, and a single condition for all other fruit/vegetables not otherwise mentioned exists, the commodity's scientific name for the single condition is entered as Other.
- For each Group, eg Fruit/Vegetables, Seeds/Grains, Cut Flowers/Ornamental Branches , a commodity name has also been entered for each individual item, eg Fruit, Vegetables, Seeds, etc. These are used where a single specific condition exists for say all fruit, but not all vegetables.
- PHYTO contains a select number of generic names.
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A search can be performed on specific text within conditions under the titles Restriction text, Additional declaration and Treatments. For example:
- to search for conditions requiring treatment with methyl bromide, enter the text "methyl bromide" in the Treatment search field;
- to search for conditions containing a declaration for fruit fly, enter "fruit fly" or "tephritidae" in the Additional declaration search field;
- to search for other text not specified above, enter key text in the Restriction text search field, this is particularly useful when searching for processed and manufactured products as the product name is entered in this field, eg cotton.
Note: Do not use wildcards.
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2.4.2 A search can be performed on all commodities permitted entry (Market accessible), Prohibited or Either by simply clicking in the appropriate circle next to the desired outcome. It is recommended to perform searches using Either.
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2.4.3
Search results can be listed in order of Country, Commodity, Conditions for end use or Market accessibility by simply clicking in the appropriate circle next to the desired outcome. Note: the second level of sorting is automatically defaulted to Commodity, where Commodity has not been selected as the first level in the sort.
2.4.4A search can be performed for any specific text contained within the PHYTO database using the Search all text field. For example, to search the entire database for any information regarding "citrus", enter the word "citrus" in this field.
Note: No other search criteria can be entered in any of the other search fields in conjunction with the Search all text field.
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2.5.1
Click on the Search button at the bottom of the search screen and PHYTO will display the results in order of the Country, Commodity, Conditions for End Use and Market Accessibility (unless specified otherwise, see Section 2.4.3).
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2.5.2
To view the details of a search result, click the hyperlink under the appropriate column for the desired information. See Section 3 Conditions, Section 4 Commodities and Section 5 Countries.
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2.5.3
Once the search results have been obtained, the results may be further sorted alphabetically in order of Commodity. Simply click on the appropriate letter of the alphabet on the search results page as shown below.
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To print the search result screen, select the print button on the browser's toolbar.
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The conditions to export a commodity to a country are displayed by selecting the hyperlink under the Conditions for end use column of the search results list. To view the next or previous condition in the list click on the Next and Previous links displayed at the top and bottom of the Conditions screen. Note: if the search result list has been sorted alphabetically, the Next and Previous functionality will only perform for the selected letter viewed, ie for all beginning with the letter B. Once the end of B is reached, the Next function will not go to C. Use the back button on the Internet toolbar to return to the search list.
Information contained in the Conditions for end use includes Restriction details, Additional declarations , Treatments, and any other information or documentation required such as Import Permits, Phytosanitary Certificates, Radiation Statements and forms EX188 and EX46, including hyperlinks to further relevant documentation (displayed at the bottom of the condition).
Each condition also contains a hyperlink to the specified Country (see Section 4 Countries) and Commodity (See Section 5 Commodities) information screens.
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To print a condition, select the Print button on the browser toolbar.
Conditions that contain Inspector's instruction are not to be
provided to the public. To print a condition, that contains an
Inspector's instruction and is to be provided to the public, select
the 
button and print the
external version of the condition. To return to the internal version
of PHYTO, use the back button on the browser toolbar.
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Each scientific name within PHYTO has a hyperlink to the Commodity information screen, displaying the common name of the commodity, and information on whether or not the commodity is found in Australia. A hyperlink to a photograph or other relevant documentation may also be displayed.
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The information contained on this page includes General restrictions, General prohibitions, Permits, Legislation, Certificates, Labelling, Foodstuffs, Reference, Quarantine body, Language and Membership. It also includes hyperlinks to the entire list of commodities in order of Restrictions and Prohibitions for the selected country. Hyperlinks to further documentation may also be displayed at the bottom of the screen.
Country information contains all other general information that is not specific to any one commodity or condition. It is recommended that the Country information be viewed regularly.
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There may be several reasons as to why a search produces nil results.
- The specified commodity or country has not yet been entered into PHYTO (this does not mean that the item is prohibited). Contact the Senior Export Inspector in your State.
- The search criteria entered is too specific, for example, a search for fresh bananas may be unsuccessful if the condition's commodity name has been entered into PHYTO as Fruit (see Section 2.3 Generic non-scientific names). It is recommended to search for the Country and the Form Fruit/Vegetables - Fresh only, and then using the alphabet function (see Section 2.5.3), to identify whether the commodity has been entered as a specific condition for Musa spp or as a grouped condition for Fruit, Other or All.
- Incorrect spelling. Enter only part of the text, eg "teph" may be entered if uncertain how to spell "tephritidae".
- The common name has not been entered into the database. Contact the PHYTO Administrator and advise of any common names to be added.
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A hyperlink is a link from one page of text to another. Hyperlinks are displayed, as blue text and becomes underlined when mouse over. Mouse click on a hyperlink to display a new page of text. Click on the Back button on the toolbar to return to the previous page.
The types of hyperlinks in PHYTO includes links to and from one screen to another, documents, photos and e-mail contacts.
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All queries regarding the content of the conditions should be forwarded to the Senior Export Inspector in your State. Queries regarding the functionality of the database should be forwarded to the PHYTO Administrator.
PHYTO V4.00
For more information contact the PHYTO administrator.
Document prepared by AQIS
URL: http://www.aqis.gov.au/phyto/asp/ex_help.asp
Last updated: 12 Feb 2008