IMPORTANT INFORMATION for potted plant sellers in the NSW fire ant infested area:

New clause: any person or retailer selling potted plants in the NSW fire ant infested area must ensure those plants have an approved biosecurity certificate if required and are EITHER treated with an APVMA approved chemical for the control of fire ants that remains effective until the potted plants are sold or disposed OR, place potted plants in preventative conditions immediately after they arrive at the premises and keep them in preventative conditions until they are sold or disposed of (Clause 40). A person who is purchasing potted plants for personal use is not required to produce certification or declare a record of movement to the department (Clause 25).

Plants

Plants that have been present in the QLD or NSW fire ant infested area or the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas, must not be moved into NSW unless the following requirements have been met under the Biosecurity Emergency Order and the Group Biosecurity Permit.

View the current Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order, Permit and Plain English Guide.

If you are moving the defined fire ant carriers from the parts of QLD and NSW shown in red, orange or yellow on this map, you must comply with the current Emergency Order.

Quick guide

Read the sections below for specific carrier requirements.

Carrier	Premises Check	Premises Treatment	Carrier Treatment	Preventative Conditions	PHC*	PHAC*	BioSecure HACCP*	RoM
Potted plants from FAIA
Potted plants from MCA
Indoor potted plants from FAIA
Indoor potted plants from MCA
Excavated plants & stumps from FAIA
Excavated plants & stumps from MCA

FAIA - Fire ant infested areas | MCA - Movement control areas | * Only ONE biosecurity certificate is required.

Carrier requirements:

Potted Plants

A potted plant is a plant in a container that was grown or re-potted in growing media and includes the plant and the growing media (excludes bare-rooted plants, tissue culture, seedlings in plugs or cells used to grow or transport plants (volume < 0.1 litres)).

To move potted plants into NSW from the QLD or NSW fire ant infested area or the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas, you must consider the following:

To move potted plants from the QLD or NSW fire ant infested areas you must:	To move potted plants from the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas you must:
Check the premises every 12 weeks and keep records (Clause 14). Treat the premises if fire ants have been found within 12 months and keep records (Clause 15). Treat the growing media of the potted plant with an APVMA approved chemical which remains effective until it arrives in NSW. Obtain a Plant Health Certificate, OR Issue a Plant Health Assurance Certificate, OR Issue a BioSecure HACCP Biosecurity Certificate Make a Record of Movement (RoM) declaration (Clause 12)	Treat the growing media of the potted plant with an APVMA approved chemical which remains effective until it arrives at its destination. Chemical treatment is not required: if the potted plant is kept in preventative conditions, if you are moving five plants or less, without chemical treatment, if you are not a business, organisation or council. If it is an indoor potted plant under certain conditions, see below. Make a Record of Movement declaration (RoM) if you are acting on behalf of a business, organisation or council.
See the Order (Clause 25)	See the Order (Clause 25) and Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit (Condition 5)

Indoor Potted Plants

Indoor potted plant means a potted plant that has been indoors continuously in the previous 3 months.

To move indoor potted plants into NSW from the QLD or NSW fire ant infested area or the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas, you must consider the following:

To move indoor potted plants from the QLD or NSW (Cobaki/Piggabeen) fire ant infested areas you must:	To move indoor potted plants from the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas you must:
Treat by keeping them indoors for a minimum of 3 months, then move them directly from indoors to a vehicle without being placed on the ground; or uproot them and remove the soil or any other fire ant carrier material. Check for any signs of fire ants. Keep them indoors for a minimum of 3 months after the controlled movement.	Treat by keeping them indoors for a minimum of 3 months, then move them directly from indoors to a vehicle without being placed on the ground; or uproot them and remove the soil or any other fire ant carrier material. Check for any signs of fire ants. Keep them indoors for a minimum of 3 months after the controlled movement.
See the Order (Clause 26)	See the Order (Clause 26)

Excavated plants and stumps

Excavated plants and stumps include mature or advanced plants (whether dead or alive) that are removed from the ground with a root ball and includes the plant, root ball and any soil attached to the root ball (excluded potted plants).

To move excavated plants and stumps into NSW from the QLD or NSW fire ant infested area or the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas, you must consider the following:

To move excavated plants and stumps from the QLD or NSW (Cobaki/ Piggabeen) fire ant infested areas you must:	To move excavated plants and stumps from the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas you must:
Check the premises every 12 weeks and keep records (Clause 14). Treat the premises if fire ants have been found within 12 months and keep records (Clause 15). Treat the excavated plants and stumps by ensuring the root ball is clean so that it is free from soil OR treat the root ball and any attached soil with an APVMA chemical and immediately place it in preventative conditions. Both the treatment and preventative conditions must remain effective until it arrives in NSW. Place it in preventative conditions immediately after treatment until it arrives in NSW. Obtain a Plant Health Certificate, OR Issue a Plant Health Assurance Certificate Make a Record of Movement (RoM) declaration (Clause 12)	Treat them by cleaning the excavated plant or stump and its root ball so it is free of soil OR treat the root ball and any attached soil with an APVMA chemical and immediately place it in preventative conditions. Both the treatment and preventative conditions must remain effective during the controlled movement. Make a Record of Movement (RoM) declaration if you are acting on behalf of a business, organisation or council.
See the Order (Clause 21)	See the Order (Clause 21) and Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit (Condition 1)