Global on-line shopping has boom out in late years , and there are some piece of ground that can have a damaging core on Australia ’s biosecurity system . seed and other plant material purchased oversea have the potential to harm its horticultural industries – include vegetables – with undesirable plague and disease embark the country . Australian Chief Plant Protection Officer , Dr. Gabrielle Vivian - Smith , outlines these threats and how they are being managed . Indian Meal Moth larvae ( ‘ eats ’ ) in cucumber semen .
" Seeds that are bought online from abroad can get a significant biosecurity risk for Australia . They can carry a range of diseases – include viruses , alien insects , and weed pests – that could touch on Australia ’s fresh produce industries , backyard gardens , and surroundings , " Vivian - Smith state . " Australia has strict condition for seminal fluid imports , and these are in place to bring off the meaning risk . Some seeds can not be import to Australia as the risk of introduce unwanted plant disease and serious weed mintage is too high . Others can , supply you suffer strict import conditions . "
The mail on seedsSeeds are the most intercepted biosecurity risk of exposure item through the ring mail . In 2020 , over 55,000 intercepted ring armor articles contained source – correspond to 72 % of the total interceptions for the point . Any of these seeds could have posed a biosecurity risk .
Since July 2020 , there have also been continue report card of Australians receiving unsolicited packets of seeds from overseas . It is suspected that this could be part of an tocopherol - commerce brush cozenage . As of 26 April 2025 , there had been 335 cases of unsolicited seeds destined for addresses across Australia . " These seeds can also pose a biosecurity risk of exposure , as they have arrived in Australia without adhere to the appropriate import condition , " Vivian - Smith continues .
lately , the Department of Agriculture , Water , and the Environment , in collaborationism with Agriculture Victoria , conducted a research project where a mountain chain of cucumber , melon , and zucchini seeds was purchased online from abroad provider . These were imported under a specific biosecurity license for testing purpose .
Disease threatsAlmost 75 % of the seed consignments that arrived as part of the project carried plant viruses that are a biosecurity concern . If these come were bribe by members of the populace and planted , they could have had crushing wallop . The virus that were detected let in Melon necrotic spot computer virus ( MNSV ) , cucumber green mottle mosaic virus ( CGMMV ) , Squash mosaic computer virus , and potyviruses . These virus are a substantial risk to Australia ’s vegetable and yield industries , as well as backyard garden , the surround , and overall flora health . Some viruses are very hardy , and once they are present in cultivated fields , they are often there to remain .
protect the countryTo better finagle semen biosecurity risks , Australia banned importee of cucumber , melon , and courgette seeds – as well as seeds of other high - risk good – through international chain armor last year .
" On arrival in Australia , biosecurity officers check that spell seed are barren from biosecurity hazard cloth and come across all signification condition . Seeds that do not meet the import condition may require examination or handling . If the biosecurity risk can not be successfully treated , the seeds will be export or cast aside of at the importer ’s expense , " Vivian - Smith says . " Illegal imports of ejaculate can be open to enforcement action by the department . There are significant penalties if you are happen to have breached Australia ’s biosecurity conditions . This can include fine and potential prosecution .
" The recent testing of seeds from oversea march the reality of the risks that Australia is potentially facing . It is a vital reminder that we all postulate to spiel our part and not purchase goodness from oversea that could be a biosecurity danger . "
