ICA and CA Procedures

The Interstate Certification Assurance (ICA) and Certification Assurance (CA) schemes are national accreditation programs that enable businesses to self-certify the movement of plants, plant products, and related materials. By adhering to specific operational procedures, accredited businesses can issue Plant Health Assurance Certificates (PHACs), facilitating the trade of their produce both interstate and intrastate.

These schemes are based on quality assurance principles and are recognized by all Australian states and territories. They provide a streamlined alternative to government-issued certifications, allowing for more efficient and timely movement of goods.

Each ICA and CA arrangement outlines specific requirements for managing pests and diseases associated with particular commodities. These procedures detail the necessary treatments, inspections, and documentation needed to meet quarantine standards.

CA arrangements

Specific CA arrangements available in NSW for intrastate or interstate trade:

CA-01 Pest free place of production

Treatment/condition	Pest free place of production
Pest	Queensland fruit fly
Produce	Tomatoes and capsicums
Full text version	CA-01 (PDF, 513.37KB)

CA-05 Biosecure transport and treatment (various)

Treatment/condition	Biosecure transport and treatment
Pest	Phylloxera, potato cyst nematode
Produce	Processing waste, mulches and products intended for composting or disposal that may contain host plant material
Full text version	CA-05 (PDF, 266.32KB)

CA-16 Treatment of host produce

Treatment/condition	Treatment of host produce
Pest	Citrus red mite (Panonychus citri)
Produce	Citrus, Fortunella and Poncirus including budwood for propagation, and potted plants.
Full text version	CA-16 (PDF, 303.26KB)

CA-18 Inspection of plants for melon thrips and silverleaf whitefly

Treatment/condition	Inspection of plants for melon thrips and silverleaf whitefly
Pest	Melon thrips (Thrips palmii), silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci [biotype B])
Produce	Plants. Includes nursery stock, cut flowers and foliage, un-rooted cuttings, and bare rooted plants.
Full text version	CA-18 (PDF, 800.46KB)

CA-21 Inspection of used agricultural equipment

Treatment/condition	Inspection of used agricultural equipment
Pest	Sugarcane pest carriers
Produce	Used agricultural equipment to a Queensland sugarcane Pest Quarantine Area
Full text version	CA-21 (PDF, 2408.05KB)

CA-26 Cleaning, inspecting and certifying empty fruit fly host produce bins

Treatment/condition	Cleaning, inspecting and certifying empty fruit fly host produce bins
Pest	Queensland fruit fly
Produce	Queensland fruit fly host produce
Full text version	CA-26 (PDF, 492.23KB)

CA-28 Certification of area freedom issued by an accrediting authority from red imported fire ants in NSW

Treatment/condition	Certification of area freedom issued by an accrediting authority from red imported fire ants in NSW
Pest	Red imported fire ant
Produce	Red imported fire ant carriers
Full text version	CA-28 (PDF)

ICA arrangements

Visit the Australian Interstate Quarantine web site to search by topic and / or state or territory for more information on ICA arrangements.

ICA-01: Dipping with dimethoate

Treatment/condition	Dipping with dimethoate
Pest	Queensland fruit fly
Produce	All fruits specified on the APVMA label or minor use permit. Specific produce is outlined in the procedure PDF below.
Full text version	ICA-01 (PDF)

ICA-02: Flood spraying with dimethoate

Treatment/condition	Flood spraying with dimethoate
Pest	Queensland fruit fly
Produce	All fruits specified on the APVMA label or minor use permit. Specific produce is outlined in the procedure PDF below.
Full text version	ICA-02 (PDF)

ICA-04: Fumigation with methyl bromide

Treatment/condition	Fumigation with methyl bromide
Pest	Queensland fruit fly and other plant pests
Produce	Fruit and fruiting vegetables, food producing plants and ornamentals
Full text version	ICA-04 (PDF)

ICA-07: Cold treatment

Treatment/condition	Cold treatment
Pest	Queensland fruit fly
Produce	Queensland fruit fly host produce
Full text version	ICA-07 (PDF)

ICA-13: Unbroken skin condition of approved fruits

Treatment/condition	Unbroken skin condition of approved fruits
Pest	Queensland fruit fly
Produce	Achachairú, durian, jaboticaba, jackfruit, longan, lychee, mangosteen, rambutan and pomegranate.
Full text version	ICA-13 (PDF)

ICA-15: Mature green condition of passionfruit, Tahitian limes and black sapotesICA-15: Mature green condition of passionfruit, Tahitian limes and black sapotes

Treatment/condition	Mature green condition of passionfruit, Tahitian limes and black sapotes
Pest	Queensland fruit fly
Produce	Passionfruit, Tahitian limes and black sapotes
Full text version	ICA-15 (PDF)

ICA-16: Mature green condition of bananas

Treatment/condition	Mature green condition of bananas
Pest	Queensland fruit fly
Produce	Bananas
Full text version	ICA-16 (PDF)

ICA-17: Reconsigning whole or split consignments and transporting of certified produce

Treatment/condition	Recognising whole or split consignments and transporting of certified produce
Pest	Various
Produce	Various. This procedure covers all splitting of consignments and reconsigning of original consignments of certified produce covered by a Business operating under an ICA arrangement in New South Wales.
Full text version	ICA-17 (PDF)

ICA-20: Pre-harvest treatment and post-harvest inspection of table grapes

Treatment/condition	Pre-harvest treatment and post-harvest inspection of table grapes
Pest	Queensland fruit fly
Produce	Table grapes
Full text version	ICA-20 (PDF)

ICA-21: Pre-harvest treatment and post-harvest inspection of approved host produce

Treatment/condition	Pre-harvest treatment and post-harvest inspection of approved host produce
Pest	Queensland fruit fly
Produce	Blueberries, persimmons, pome and stonefruit.
Full text version	ICA-21 (PDF)

ICA-26: Pre-harvest treatment and post-harvest inspection of tomatoes, capsicum, chillies and eggplants

Treatment/condition	Pre-harvest treatment and post-harvest inspection of tomatoes, capsicum, chillies and eggplants
Pest	Queensland fruit fly
Produce	Tomatoes, capsicums, chillies and eggplants.
Full text version	ICA-26 (PDF)

ICA-29: Treatment of nursery stock and soil-less media

Treatment/condition	Treatment of nursery stock and soil-less media
Pest	Various pests and diseases
Produce	Nursery stock. More broadly defined in procedure PDF below.
Full text version	ICA-29 (PDF)

ICA-30: Hard condition of avocados

Treatment/condition	Hard condition of avocados
Pest	Queensland fruit fly
Produce	Avocado
Full text version	ICA-30 (PDF)

ICA-31: Pre-harvest treatment and inspection of blueberries for blueberry rustICA-31: Pre-harvest treatment and inspection of blueberries for blueberry rust

Treatment/condition	Pre-harvest treatment and inspection of blueberries for blueberry rust
Pest	Blueberry rust
Produce	Blueberries
Full text version	ICA-31 (PDF)

ICA-33: Movement of wine grapes - phylloxera and fruit flyICA-33: Movement of wine grapes - phylloxera and fruit fly

Treatment/condition	Movement of wine grapes - phylloxera and fruit fly
Pest	Queensland fruit fly, grapevine phylloxera
Produce	Wine grapes for processing
Full text version	ICA-33 (PDF)

ICA-37: Hot water treatment of grapevines

Treatment/condition	Hot water treatment of grapevines
Pest	Grapevine phylloxera
Produce	Vine material (dormant)
Full text version	ICA-37 (PDF)

ICA-38: Inspection of melon thrips host produce for melon thrips

Treatment/condition	Inspection of melon thrips host produce for melon thrips
Pest	Melon thrips
Produce	Melon thrips host produce (as specified in procedure PDF below).
Full text version	ICA-38 (PDF)

ICA-39: Treatment of bulk media and treatment and inspection of potted plants from within the red imported fire ant quarantine area

Treatment/condition	Treatment of bulk media and treatment and inspection of potted plants from within the red imported fire ant quarantine area
Pest	Red imported fire ant
Produce	Potted plants in growing media and bulk growing media
Full text version	ICA-39 (PDF)

ICA-42: Production nursery freedom, treatment and inspection for myrtle rust

Treatment/condition	Production nursery freedom, treatment and inspection for myrtle rust
Pest	Myrtle rust
Produce	Live plants of the Myrtaceae family
Full text version	ICA-42 (PDF)

ICA-57: Repacking of certified fruit fly and melon thrips host produce

Treatment/condition	Repacking of certified fruit fly and melon thrips host produce
Pest	Queensland fruit fly, melon thrips
Produce	Queensland fruit fly host produce, melon thrips host produce
Full text version	ICA-57 (PDF) (applicable to all States and Territories except QLD)

Becoming an accredited business

To participate in the ICA or CA schemes, businesses must apply for accreditation and demonstrate their ability to comply with the relevant operational procedures. Accredited businesses are subject to regular audits to ensure ongoing compliance.

For more information on the application process, requirements, and maintaining accreditation, please refer to the Interstate Certification Assurance (ICA) arrangements.