Industry notice: movement of potted plants within QLD, red imported fire ant (RIFA) compliance
01 May 2026
1 May 2026
Greenlife Industry Australia has identified that there has been confusion regarding compliance requirements specifically the requirement for a certificate i.e Biosecurity Instrument permit to accompany a consignment of potted plants stock moved within Queensland.
No Permit Required When Approved Risk-Reduction Practices Are Used
A biosecurity instrument permit is not required to move potted plants within an area considered to be infested with fire ants, provided they have been grown and stored in a way that minimises the risk of fire ant infestation (see below).
Approved risk-reduction practices include any one of the following approved Plant Growing and Storage Methods:
- Plants are covered and kept off the ground (+30cm), or
- Plants are covered and grown on a barrier that cannot be penetrated by fire ants, with a 30cm chemical perimeter using bifenthrin. (Concrete or bitumen with no cracks, or any other barrier that cannot be penetrated by fire ants (e.g. 200 micron unperforated plastic sheeting).
- Plants are covered, on treated compacted ground with a 30cm chemical perimeter using bifenthrin. An area of compacted ground, other than sand, that has been treated with an appropriate chemical product before any material is put on the area.
If these requirements are met, potted plants may move within Queensland without a Biosecurity Instrument permit.
*For a drench application use PER14317, for incorporation of granular product into media use PER13959 and must be applied by a qualified person (AQF3/ChemCERT).
Production and Retail nurseries are advised that:
- Plant Health Certificates (PHCs)
- Plant Health Assurance Certificates (PHACs)
- BioSecure HACCP biosecurity certificates (BHBC’s)
are not required to accompany the plants for movement within Queensland.
These certificates are used to provide assurance to other states and territories when potted plants are moved from Queensland and are not required for intrastate trade.
The only instrument that you may be asked to provide is a Biosecurity Instrument Permit. Biosecurity Instrument Permits allow businesses to use move plants where risk-reduction requirements listed above have NOT been met.
Where plants comply with the approved growing and storage practices outlined above, no Biosecurity Instrument Permit is required.
Verification Tool for Growers and Retailers
If there is uncertainty about compliance requirements, businesses are encouraged to use the official Material and Activity Check (MAT) Tool:
https://www.fireants.org.au/fact/mat-check
This tool confirms whether a permit is required based on where plants are grown, stored, and moved.
Action for Retailers
Production nurseries are encouraged to assist their customers such as retail nurseries to:
- Retain evidence of compliant growing and storage practices
- Politely challenge requests for PHCs or PHACs when asked if the plants are being moved intrastate
- Refer compliance officers the assessment undertaken using the MAT tool where required
Industry Commitment
The nursery industry supports the National Fire Ant Eradication Program and remains committed to effective biosecurity outcomes. Clear and consistent application of the rules is essential to protect both biosecurity and lawful trade within Queensland.
Please provide this information to relevant staff and your supply chain partners as necessary.