Plant health
Plant health services reduce the risk of pests and diseases that can affect South Australian crops and threaten our economy.
Our services include:
- fruit fly prevention, detection and eradication
- market access certification and movement control of imports and exports
- movement restrictions, border control and compliance
- quarantine movement advice for travellers and business
- response to fruit fly outbreaks
- general pest surveillance
- exotic plant pest emergency response and control.
Plant Quarantine Standard - entry requirements for fruit, veg and plants
The Plant Quarantine Standard (PQS) provides the entry requirements for fruit, vegetables, plants, and plant related products into South Australia.
On 21 July 2020, changes to the PQS came into effect to protect South Australia’s wine grape industry from phylloxera. The key changes include:
- Steam as a sterilisation treatment method for all machinery or equipment being imported into SA is now prohibited
- The entry of used netting, trellis posts, vine guards, dripper tube, wire and clips into SA is now prohibited
- The entry of winegrapes grown in a Phylloxera Risk Zone (PRZ) into SA is now prohibited
- Alignment of entry requirements for equipment from a PRZ with tougher standards applicable for equipment from a Phylloxera Infested Zone (PIZ) and Phylloxera Interim Buffer Zone (PIBZ)
- Alignment of entry requirements for grape marc, with that of winegrapes.
The conditions below have been updated and replace the corresponding conditions in the PQS document:
Read the Plant Quarantine Standard Plant Quarantine Standard Version 17.0 () for the full range of changes.
Note: if you are having problems viewing a document, please use an alternative internet browser.
Ministerial Notices that support the PQS
Annex 1 Ministerial Notice 2 - Sections 4 and 8 Declared Pests and Quarantine Areas July 2020 ()Annex 2 Ministerial Notice 4 - Sections 7 Prohibited Plants and Plant Products July 2019 ()
International Year of Plant Health
In December 2018, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 2020 the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH). This initiative will be celebrated around the world, including in Australia.
The overarching theme is ‘Protect Plants, Protect Life’.
PIRSA will work collaboratively with Plant Health Australia, and other government departments and agencies, to raise awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment, and boost economic development. It will also highlight the vital role of national and regional plant health organisations play in protecting plants from deadly pests and diseases.
Emergency and significant plant pests
Information and fact sheets for current Emergency Plant Pests, and plant pests and diseases of significant concern.
Emergency and significant plant pests
Fact sheets and videos
- Entomology fact sheets (SARDI)
- Plant pest videos (YouTube) - created by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
Plant health legislation
Plant health legislation protects plants from pests and regulates their movement into and within South Australia:
Clean Your Farm Initiative
The Clean Your Farm initiative helps growers implement best practice on-farm biosecurity on the Northern Adelaide Plains.
Clean Your Farm aims to raise awareness of key sources of risk for vegetable diseases and pests (including weeds) and help growers better protect their produce and ultimately their income.
If you would like to know more information about the project please contact AUSVEG SA 0404 772 308 or Michelle Carr, PIRSA on 8429 0351.
It’s an initiative of PIRSA, AUSVEG SA and the Department for Environment and Water.
Contacts
Plant Health enquiries
33 Flemington Street, Glenside, SA 5065
Email: pirsa.planthealth@sa.gov.au
Phone: (08) 8207 7820
Report fruit fly and plant pest sightings
24 hour Fruit Fly hotline: 1300 666 010
Exotic plant pest hotline: 1800 084 881
Market Access and Interstate Certification Assurance
Email: pirsa.planthealthmarketaccess@sa.gov.au
Phone: (08) 8207 7814
Transport manifest lodgement
Email: pirsa.planthealthmanifest@sa.gov.au
Fax: (08) 8124 1467
South Australian Produce Market office
Plant Health Inspector
South Australian Produce Market - Pooraka office
Phone: 0417 800 723