Moving and storing produce in outbreaks
Learn what secure conditions are, and how you can achieve them to receive a movement certificate.
Secure condition requirements
If you want to move fruit and vegetables through a fruit fly affected area, known as a controlled movement zone (CMZ), you will need to:
- meet secure conditions for your produce
- apply for movement certification.
This is required in the following situations:
- before moving from outside the CMZ and transiting through
- before moving restricted fruit and vegetables from any property within the red outbreak area, known as a corrective action zone (CAZ) – this includes between properties, even when both properties are owned or managed by the same people or business
- before leaving the controlled movement zone if you're transiting through any sensitive markets, including South Australia
- immediately after treatment to maintain the treatment’s integrity.
See the following options for secure conditions.
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 1.6 mm 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
- you can 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 and trucks, or trailers with sealed doors and no holes more than 1.6 mm (including refrigerated trailers and tautliners).
There are limitations with transporting restricted fruit and vegetables through a fruit fly affected area. Having secure transport is not always achievable when using a third-party transporter due to offloading and reloading or secondary pick-ups.
Find out more about transporters requirements.
Low air temperature
Secure temperature conditions include storage below the nominated temperature for the type of fruit fly outbreak. You may need to maintain records of:
- temperatures taken at regular intervals
- maintenance and calibration for facilities recognised as meeting low air temperature secure conditions.
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.
Interstate markets may require you to maintain additional or specific security. This will be detailed in their plant quarantine entry requirements.
Movement certificates
The 2 types of movement certificates you may receive are either:
- an Inspectors Direction Certificate for Export Assurance Zones (EAZ)
- a Chief Inspectors Movement Certificate for Corrective Action Zone.
To start this process, you need to complete the online Secure Movement Notification form – if you don't already have a movement certificate, it will be issued on completion of the form.
Before you receive a movement certificate, we will confirm that you're meeting all your destination market quarantine requirements, such as treatment. PIRSA must be present to audit your secure conditions before your first consignment moves. Once confirmed, you'll receive a movement certificate.
Note that certificates may take up to 2 days to be approved, or longer if proposing a new arrangement, so you should factor this into your planning. Contact industry support for more information.
Movement certificates will include:
- your business details
- specific details as to how you are meeting secure conditions, such as trailer numbers of a truck
- 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
- comply with all other conditions written within the certificate.
Random inspections may occur to make sure that your business is meeting the requirements listed on your movement certificate.
Find more information if you are a third-party transporter.
Notifications for each movement
Once you have your movement certificate (or if you already have one), you must tell PIRSA at least 48 hours before every movement of restricted fruit and vegetables leaving a controlled movement zone or export assurance zone.
Complete the online Secure Movement Notification form to submit a secure movement notification.
Secure movement notifications aren't needed for moving restricted fruit and vegetables within an export assurance zone, but they are required if transiting a controlled movement 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.
Call the Fruit Fly Industry Hotline
Contact us to help your business with market access and outbreak restrictions.
Call 1800 255 556