Prohibited matter
Important
Fire ants are prohibited matter in NSW under the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015.
This means that any person dealing with fire ants or a fire ant carrier is guilty of an offence under the Act.
The Biosecurity Act 2015 defines dealing to include:
- keeping fire ants or a fire ant carrier,
- having possession, care, custody or control of fire ants or a fire ant carrier,
- producing, manufacturing or suppling fire ants or a fire ant carrier,
- importing fire ants or a fire ant carrier into the State,
- acquiring fire ants or a fire ant carrier,
- buying, selling or disposing of fire ants or a fire ant carrier,
- moving fire ants or a fire ant carrier,
- releasing fire ants or a fire ant carrier from captivity,
- using or treating fire ants or a fire ant carrier for any purpose,
- breeding, propagating, growing, raising, feeding or culturing fire ants or a fire ant carrier,
- experimenting with fire ants or a fire ant carrier,
- displaying fire ants or a fire ant carrier,
- entering into an agreement or other arrangement under which another person deals with fire ants or a fire ant carrier,
- agreeing to deal with fire ants or a fire ant carrier,
- causing or permiting a dealing in fire ants or a fire ant carrier to occur,
- testing for the presence of fire ants.