In SA’s Plant Quarantine Standard, Condition 7 Clause 4 relates to grapes and grape-related materials. Anyone planning to import grapes or grape-related materials into SA from interstate must understand and abide by these entry requirements.
KEY ASPECTS:
Wine and grape juice that has been processed (filtered, centrifuged, cold settled or other) to a 50-micron filtration rating (or tighter) may enter unrestricted into SA and are not classified as regulated products under the SA Plant Quarantine Standard. No Importer Registration or Direct Inspection of these products applies.
To import winegrapes into SA:
- Entry is only allowable for winegrapes grown in an interstate Phylloxera Exclusion Zone (PEZ), via proof of origin. A Plant Health Certificate (PHC) obtained from the interstate biosecurity department or Plant Health Assurance Certificate (PHAC) completed by an ICA33 Accredited Business must accompany the consignment during import.
To import must and unfiltered juice into SA:
- Entry is allowable for must and unfiltered juice grown in an interstate PEZ, via proof of origin. This proof takes the form of a PHC and must accompany the consignment during import.
- Entry is allowable for must and unfiltered juice grown in an interstate Phylloxera Risk Zone (PRZ), Phylloxera Infested Zone (PIZ) or Phylloxera Interim Buffer Zone (PIBZ) and moved under ICA22. A PHC or alternatively a Product Movement Declaration completed by an ICA22 Accredited Business must be obtained and accompany the consignment during import.
To import grape marc and destemmer waste from fresh winegrapes into SA:
- Entry is only allowable for grape marc and destemmer waste from fresh winegrapes grown in an interstate PEZ. A Declaration (refer Appendix 13 in the SA Plant Quarantine Standard) must accompany the consignment during import.
To import table grapes into SA:
- Entry is allowable for table grapes grown in an interstate PEZ, via proof of origin. A PHC or PHAC completed by an Accredited Business must accompany the consignment during import.
- Entry is allowable for table grapes grown in an interstate PRZ, but they must be free of all vineyard soil and leaf matter and be sterilised via fumigation with methyl bromide (refer SA Plant Quarantine Standard Condition 7 Clause 4/4.1(2)a) for further details), or fumigation with a mixture of 1% sulphur dioxide and 6% carbon dioxide for 30 minutes, or for packed table grapes only – through the inclusion at label rate of sulphur pads containing 970g/kg anhydrous sodium metabisulphite. A PHC or PHAC completed by an ICA04 Accredited Business for methyl bromide fumigation only must accompany the consignment during import.
- Entry is allowable for table grapes grown in an interstate PIZ or PIBZ, but they must be free of all vineyard soil and leaf matter and be sterilised via fumigation with methyl bromide, or fumigation with a mixture of 1% sulphur dioxide and 6% carbon dioxide for 30 minutes. A PHC or PHAC completed by an ICA04 Accredited Business for methyl bromide fumigation only must accompany the consignment during import.
A reminder that all regulated imports into SA, including those made under Condition 7 are subject to Importer Registration. The ‘importer registration’ provides the importer ‘authorisation’ to import the regulated item for commercial purposes. Where allowable for single imports conducted in a year for table grapes, winegrapes, must, unfiltered juice, or grape marc – a PHIC acts as the form of importer registration. Where multiple allowable imports of the aforementioned (apart from must or unfiltered juice from an interstate PRZ/PIZ/PIBZ) are conducted in a year, importer registration can be applied for through IR01 or IVCA; for must or unfiltered juice from an interstate PRZ/PIZ/PIBZ, importer registration for multiple imports is covered under ICA22. For further information on ICA22, refer here.
A reminder that all regulated imports into SA are also subject to Direct Inspection. This is an inspection and formal clearing on arrival into SA of the imported items by a PIRSA Inspector or an Import Verification Compliance Arrangement (IVCA) Accredited Business. Penalties apply for failing to comply. To request a Direct Inspection for fruit, vegetables, plants or flowers through PIRSA, refer here. For further information on IVCA, refer here and for the IVCA application form, refer here.