New Queensland fruit fly outbreaks declared – Salisbury North and Barmera B. Check your address on the outbreak map.

Storing, packing and transporting fruit and vegetables from fruit fly affected areas

Find out how to provide secure conditions through storing, packing and transporting restricted fruit and vegetables, to prevent fruit fly and move produce safely.

Ensure secure conditions and movement certification before you move fruit and vegetables through a fruit fly affected area (Controlled Movement Zone, or CMZ)

You must ensure secure conditions for your fruit and vegetables against fruit flies and obtain a movement certificate:

  1. before moving from outside the Controlled Movement Zone and transiting through; or
  2. before moving restricted fruit and vegetables from any property within the red outbreak area (Corrective Action Zone, or CAZ) (this includes between properties, even when both properties are owned and/or managed by the same people or business); or
  3. before leaving the Controlled Movement Zone if you're transiting through any sensitive markets, including South Australia; or
  4. immediately after treatment to maintain recognition of the treatment’s integrity.

How to meet secure conditions

You can meet secure conditions through one of these options:

Secure packaging

Secure packaging means either the packaging, or the covering of the cartons, bins or pallets have no holes or gaps larger than 1.6 mm.

Examples include:

  • enclosed boxes, bins, cartons and tray liners
  • shrink wrapped pallets
  • mesh bags with a weave size of no more than 1.6 mm diameter covered with netting with a weave size of no more than 1.6mm diameter

Secure facilities and transport

Facilities used to store and manage, and vehicles used to transport restricted fruit and vegetables must be constructed to prevent the entry of fruit flies. This means:

  • Buildings or other structures are fully enclosed or screened with no gaps larger than 1.6 mm in diameter; and
  • You are able to maintain physical separation of treated and untreated restricted fruit and vegetables at all times through receival, storage, treatment (if applicable), grading and dispatch.
  • Vehicles are secure: sealed, fully enclosed cars, trucks or trailers with sealed doors and no holes more than 1.6 mm (including refrigerated trailers and tautliners).

There are limitations associated with transporting restricted fruit and vegetables through a fruit fly affected area – having secure transport is not typically achievable when using a third party transporter due to offloading/reloading or secondary pick-ups. Find out more about transporters requirements.

Low air temperature

Secure temperature conditions require storage below the nominated temperature.

Mediterranean fruit fly outbreak – restricted fruit and vegetables can only be stored at 13°C or above for a maximum of 60 minutes.

Queensland fruit fly outbreak – restricted fruit and vegetables must be stored under 16°C at all times.

You may be required to maintain records of temperatures taken at regular intervals, and maintenance and calibration records for facilities recognised as meeting low air temperature secure conditions.

Interstate markets

Interstate markets may require you to maintain additional or specific security. This will be detailed in their plant quarantine entry requirements.

How to get a movement certificate

If you don't already have a Movement Certificate, it will be issued on completion of the notification form. You can also contact industry support for more information.

Make contact early, as certificates may take up to two days to be approved, or longer if proposing a new arrangement.

Before you receive a Movement Certificate, PIRSA will confirm that you're meeting all your destination market quarantine requirements (such as treatment requirements). PIRSA must be present to audit your secure conditions before your first consignment moves.

Once confirmed, you'll receive a Movement Certificate.

Types of movement certificates and compliance

The two types of Movement Certificates you may receive are either:

  1. an Inspectors Direction Certificate for Export Assurance Zones; or
  2. a Chief Inspectors Movement Certificate for Corrective Action Zones.

These Movement Certificates will include your business details, specific details as to how you are meeting secure conditions (such as trailer numbers of a truck), and any additional requirements that must be applied.

You must always carry a copy of your Movement Certificate with you when moving restricted fruit and vegetables out of the Controlled Movement Zone, and comply with all other conditions written within the certificate. Random inspections may occur to make sure that your business is complying with the requirements listed on either certificate.

Notification is required for every secure movement

Once you have your Movement Certificate, or if you already have one, you must advise PIRSA at least 48 hours before every movement of restricted fruit and vegetables leaving a Corrective Action Zone or Export Assurance Zone.

Secure movement notifications aren't needed for moving restricted fruit and vegetables within an Export Assurance Zone, but are required if transiting a Corrective Action Zone.

If you can't notify PIRSA 48 hours before moving, or you send multiple consignments daily, contact the Market Access team to organise an alternative arrangement.

How to submit a secure movement notification

Page Last Reviewed: 18 Dec 2023
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