Biosecurity

Section 71 of the Regulation requires that potted plants must be covered in a way that prevents fires ants infesting them and may be stored either above ground level or at ground level on a fire ant resistance surface*. If they are covered and above ground the potted plants are stored compliantly. However if they are stored uncovered (in the open) for longer than 24 hours, or are stored on the ground but not on a fire ant resistance surface, then you must ensure that the potted plants are treated with an appropriate chemical product# and a record must be kept which states which chemical product and how it was used for the treatment (e.g. date treated, concentration of active ingredient and volume of mixed product applied and how).  

To assist you to comply with the Regulation you may review the information links below 

*See section 71 (4) for what is acceptable as a fire ant resistant surface 

# Treated with an appropriate chemical product means using one of the methods currently authorised by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Management Authority (AVPMA) listed below. : 

• Perimeter, barrier, and spray treatments with liquid bifenthrin PER14317 

• Drenching potted plants with liquid cyfluthrin                                 PER12073 

• Drenching potted plants with liquid chlorpyrifos                            PER13504 

• Drenching potting plants with liquid bifenthrin                                PER14317 

• Granular bifenthrin incorporated in potting media                        PER13959 

• Granular chlorpyrifos incorporated in potting media                  PER14256 

The permits are available from the APVMA website using this link