Soil & plant-based products

Certain soil and plant-based products that have been present in the QLD or NSW fire ant infested area or the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas, must not be moved into NSW unless the following requirements have been met under the Biosecurity Emergency Order and the Group Biosecurity Permit.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

GROUP PERMIT FOR HAY IS SUSPENDED:

In the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the NSW Government has taken immediate action to ensure flood fodder is fire ant free, suspending the permit for hay moving from infested areas of Southeast Queensland into NSW.

The Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit, which allows movements of hay from specified lower risk areas in the fire ant biosecurity zone of Southeast Queensland under certain conditions, is suspended for one month, effective from 12.30 pm on Thursday 13^th March 2025. This suspension allows the Department to further assess the distribution of fire ants following the flooding events and determine the current biosecurity risk.

The swift response follows the discovery of multiple fire ant colonies rafting in flood waters in Queensland, within the Logan River catchment. While the catchment flows to the northeast and into Moreton Bay, the risk of mobile fire ant colonies being transported into NSW in known carrier materials may have increased.

If you are moving regulated fire ant carriers from the parts of QLD and NSW shown in red, orange or yellow on this map, you must comply with the current Emergency Order. View the new order and Plain English Guide.

SUSPENSION TURF MOVING FROM QLD INFESTED AREAS

Following the interception at Clunes in November 2024, NSW DPIRD took immediate action to mitigate the risk of fire ant movements into NSW by placing a temporary suspension of turf movements from QLD fire ant infested areas into any part of NSW. The suspension will remain in place pending further investigations and compliance work.

View the current Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order and Plain English Guide.
If you are moving the defined fire ant carriers from the parts of QLD and NSW shown in red, orange or yellow on this map, you must comply with the current Emergency Order.

Quick reference guide

Read the sections below for specific carrier requirements.

Carrier	Premises Check	Premises Treat	Carrier Treat	Preventative Conditions	PHC*	PHAC*	BioSecure HACCP*	RoM
Mulch, soil, compost and manure from FAIA
Mulch, soil, compost and manure from MCA
Growing media from FAIA
Growing media from MCA
Soil samples from FAIA
Soil samples from MCA
Hay from FAIA
Hay from MCA
Chaff from FAIA
Chaff from FAIA
Silage from FAIA
Silage from FAIA
Turf from FAIA
Turf from FAIA

FAIA - Fire ant infested areas | MCA - Movement control areas | * Only ONE biosecurity certificate is required.

Carrier requirements:

Mulch, soil, compost and manure

Materials made from plant or organic waste including mulch (bark, wood chips, sugarcane, sawdust and bagasse), soil (excluding soil samples), compost (organic matter used as a soil conditioner or fertiliser), animal manure (excluding manure produced by livestock during a controlled movement).

To move Mulch, soil, compost and manure into NSW from the QLD or NSW fire ant infested area or the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas, you must consider the following:

To move mulch, soil, compost and manure from the QLD or NSW fire ant infested areas you must:	To move mulch, soil, compost and manure from the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas you must:
Check the premises every 12 weeks and keep records (Clause 14). Treat the premises if fire ants have been found within 12 months and keep records (Clause 15). Treat it by either: heating it to a minimum temperature of 65.5° Celsius; OR vigorously disturb it by crushing, cutting, hammering, chipping, shredding, screening (by passing all the fire ant carrier through a screen bucket, grate or other sieve), mechanised turning (by a machine that creates disturbance, including by rotary hoe, trommel or windrow turner) or washing. Move or turn the material at least once every 21 days while in a fire ant infested area. Place it in preventative conditions immediately after treatment until it arrives in NSW. Obtain a Plant Health Certificate, OR Issue a BioSecure HACCP Biosecurity Certificate Make a Record of Movement (RoM) declaration (Clause 12).	Treat it either by: agitating it by spreading it on a hard surface by hand or machine until the layer is no more than 15 cm deep and then forming it into a pile (the process of loading it onto a truck or trailer does not meet the requirement to be agitated); OR heat it to a minimum temperature of 65.5° Celsius; OR vigorously disturb it by crushing, cutting, hammering, chipping, shredding, screening (by passing all the fire ant carrier through a screen bucket, grate or other sieve), mechanised turning (by a machine that creates disturbance, including by rotary hoe, trommel or windrow turner) or washing. Place it in preventative conditions immediately after treatment until it arrives at its destination. Make a Record of Movement (RoM) declaration if you are acting on behalf of a business, organisation or council.
See the Order (Clause 22)	See the Order (Clause 22)

Growing media

New definition

Material used to provide physical support to plants, facilitating root growth, and delivering aeration, nutrients and water to the plant and includes potting mixes and manufactured soil products. Growing media that is part of a potted plant is subject to Clause 25.

To move growing media into NSW from the QLD or NSW fire ant infested area or the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas, you must consider the following:

To move growing media from the QLD or NSW (Cobaki/Piggabeen) fire ant infested areas you must:	To move growing media from the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas you must:
Check the premises every 12 weeks and keep records (Clause 14). Treat the premises if fire ants have been found within 12 months and keep records (Clause 15). Treat it by either: heating it to a minimum temperature of 65.5° Celsius; OR vigorously disturbing it by crushing, cutting, hammering, chipping, shredding, screening, mechanised turning (by a machine that creates disturbance, including by rotary hoe, trommel or windrow turner) OR washing; OR treating it with an APVMA approved chemical. Move or turn the growing media at least once every 21 days while in a fire ant infested area. Place it in preventative conditions (for example, sealed in a bag and free from holes or tears) immediately after treatment until it arrives in NSW. Obtain a Plant Health Certificate, OR Issue a Plant Health Assurance Certificate Make a Record of Movement (RoM) declaration (Clause 12).	Treat it by either: agitating it by spreading it on a hard surface by hand or machine until the layer is no more than 15 cm deep and then forming it into a pile (the process of loading it onto a truck or trailer does not meet the requirement to be agitated); OR heating it to a minimum temperature of 65.5° Celsius; OR vigorously disturbing it by crushing, cutting, hammering, chipping, shredding, screening, mechanised turning (by a machine that creates disturbance, including by rotary hoe, trommel or windrow turner) OR washing; OR treating it with an APVMA approved chemical. Place it in preventative conditions immediately after treatment until it arrives at its destination. Make a Record of Movement (RoM) declaration if you are acting on behalf of a business, organisation or council.
See the Order (Clause 24)	See the Order (Clause 24) and the *Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit (Conditions 1, 4)*

Soil samples

A sample of soil prepared for the purpose of laboratory analysis.

To move soil samples into NSW from the QLD or NSW fire ant infested area or the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas, you must consider the following:

To move soil samples from the QLD or NSW (Cobaki/ Piggabeen) fire ant infested areas you must:	To move soil samples from the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas you must:
Treat it by inspecting each sample to ensure it is free of fire ants and then cool it to less than -18° Celsius (a domestic freezer is adequate) for 48 hours prior to movement. Each sample may be no more than 1 kg of soil.	Treat it by inspecting each sample to ensure it is free of fire ants and then cool it to less than -18° Celsius (a domestic freezer is adequate) for 48 hours prior to movement. Each sample may be no more than 1 kg of soil.
See the Order (Clause 23)	See the Order (Clause 23)

Hay

The term ‘hay’ refers to hay, haylage and straw.

To move hay from the QLD or NSW (Cobaki/ Piggabeen) fire ant infested areas you must:	To move hay from the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas you must:
Check the premises every 12 weeks and keep records (Clause 14). Treat the premises if fire ants have been found within 12 months and keep records (Clause 15). Treat it by ensuring every bale is dry and free of soil; and treat each bale with an APVMA-approved chemical (fumigate with methyl bromide if intended for use as livestock feed). Place it in preventative conditions immediately after treatment until it arrives in NSW. Obtain a Plant Health Certificate, OR Issue a BioSecure HACCP Biosecurity Certificate Make a Record of Movement (RoM) declaration (Clause 12).	Treat it by ensuring hay is baled more than 8 weeks after premises treatment with insect growth regulator by the National Fire Ant Eradication Program; or vigorously disturb it by crushing, cutting, hammering, chipping, shredding, screening (by passing all the fire ant carrier through a screen bucket, grate or other sieve), mechanised turning (by a machine that creates disturbance, including by rotary hoe, trommel or windrow turner). Place it in preventative conditions immediately after treatment until it arrives in NSW at its destination. Make a Record of Movement (RoM) declaration if you are acting on behalf of a business, organisation or council.
See the Order (Clause 27)	See the Order (Clause 27) and the Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit (Conditions 1, 6)

Note: A Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit allows movements of hay from lower risk areas in the fire ant biosecurity zone of Southeast Queensland under certain conditions. Read the hay permit to view the conditions and a list of localities included in the permit.

Chaff

Chaff is hay that is hammer milled or cut with a chaff cutter into small pieces.

To move chaff from the QLD or NSW (Cobaki/ Piggabeen) fire ant infested areas you must:	To move chaff from the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas you must:
Check the premises every 12 weeks and keep records (Clause 14). Treat the premises if fire ants have been found within 12 months and keep records (Clause 15). Treat it by hammer milling the chaff or cut it with a chaff cutter. Place it in preventative conditions (for example, in a sealed bag) immediately after treatment until it arrives in NSW. Check every bag for rips or tears. Obtain a Plant Health Certificate, OR Issue a BioSecure HACCP Biosecurity Certificate Make a Record of Movement (RoM) declaration (Clause 12).	Treat it by ensuring hay is baled more than 8 weeks after premises treatment with insect growth regulator by the National Fire Ant Eradication Program; or vigorously disturb it by crushing, cutting, hammering, chipping, shredding, screening (by passing all the fire ant carrier through a screen bucket, grate or other sieve), mechanised turning (by a machine that creates disturbance, including by rotary hoe, trommel or windrow turner). Place it in preventative conditions immediately after treatment until it arrives in NSW at its destination. Make a Record of Movement (RoM) declaration if you are acting on behalf of a business, organisation or council.
See the Order (Clause 28)	See the Order (Clause 28) and the Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit (Conditions 1, 7)

Silage

Silage is a type of fodder produced by ensiling and fermenting pastures.

To move silage from the QLD or NSW (Cobaki/ Piggabeen) fire ant infested areas you must:	To move silage from the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas you must:
Check the premises every 12 weeks and keep records (Clause 14). Treat the premises if fire ants have been found within 12 months and keep records (Clause 15). Treat it by wrapping bales in at least 6 layers of silage wrap or film and ensuring it remains undamaged and intact. Wait 6 weeks after making bales before making a controlled movement. Check every bale for holes or tears or soil stuck to wrapping. The treatment above is considered preventative conditions. Obtain a Plant Health Certificate, OR Issue a BioSecure HACCP Biosecurity Certificate Make a Record of Movement (RoM) declaration (Clause 12).	Treat it by wrapping bales in at least 6 layers of silage wrap or film and ensuring it remains undamaged and intact. Wait 6 weeks after making bales before making a controlled movement. Check every bale for holes or tears or soil stuck to wrapping. Make a Record of Movement (RoM) declaration if you are acting on behalf of a business, organisation or council.
See the Order (Clause 29)	See the Order (Clause 12, 29) and the Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit (Conditions 1, 8)

Turf

Turf is the upper layer of grass and soil harvested for transplanting (sometimes called sod).

To move turf from the QLD or NSW (Cobaki/ Piggabeen) fire ant infested areas you must:	To move turf from the Murwillumbah or Wardell movement control areas you must:
Check the premises every 12 weeks and keep records (Clause 14). Treat the premises if fire ants have been found within 12 months and keep records (Clause 15). Treat it with an APVMA approved chemical prior to harvest and harvest it in accordance with APVMA requirements. Ensure the treatment remains effective until it arrives in NSW. Place it in preventative conditions immediately after harvesting until it arrives in NSW. Label it with: “This turf is from an area where fire ants have been present or known to be present, if this turf is laid in New South Wales, it must be treated with an APVMA approved chemical for the control of fire ants immediately after laying”. Receivers of turf in NSW must treat the turf immediately after it is laid with an APVMA approved chemical and keep the turf in preventative conditions until it is laid. A range of chemical treatments are approved by the APVMA for treating fire ants in turf in areas such as lawns, parks, sports grounds. These are approved and readily available for use in NSW. Receivers of turf in NSW must also ensure the turf remains labelled if it is stored or offered for resale in NSW Obtain a Plant Health Certificate, OR Issue a BioSecure HACCP Biosecurity Certificate Make a Record of Movement (RoM) declaration (Clause 12).	Treat it with an APVMA approved chemical prior to harvest and harvest it in accordance with APVMA requirements. Place it in preventative conditions immediately after harvest until it arrives at its destination. Make a Record of Movement (RoM) declaration if you are acting on behalf of a business, organisation or council.
See the Order (Clause 30, 31)	See the Order (Clause 30, 31) and the Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit (Conditions 1, 9, 10)