A biosecurity zone is a part of Queensland that has legal movement restrictions placed on it to limit the spread of pests and diseases within the state.

Queensland has several biosecurity zones for different pests and diseases. You need to know the boundaries of the zones to know whether you are affected by the zone restrictions.

You can see maps of the biosecurity zones for various pests and diseases by using the links below.

For comprehensive information on biosecurity zones and the restrictions that apply to them, view the Queensland biosecurity manual (PDF, 921KB).

Banana plant pests

The following maps show the biosecurity zones for banana plant pests:

• Far Northern biosecurity zone 1 and zone 2 map (PDF, 334KB)
• Northern and Southern banana biosecurity zones map (PDF, 420KB).

These zones cover the following banana plant pests and diseases:

• Black Sigatoka
• Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4)
• Banana freckle
• Banana bunchy top virus
• Cavendish-competent Panama disease tropical race 1.

Banana growers can also read the Banana industry biosecurity guideline (PDF, 621KB) for practical advice on managing biosecurity risks.

Electric ants

Two areas have been established within the electric ant biosecurity zone—the restricted zone and the lesser restrictions area.

• Electric ant biosecurity zone map (PDF, 591KB)
• Restricted zone interactive map

Grape phylloxera

• Grape phylloxera biosecurity zone map (PDF, 470KB)

Papaya ringspot

The Papaya ringspot biosecurity zone map (PDF, 768KB) shows the boundaries for:

• Papaya ringspot biosecurity zone 1
• Papaya ringspot biosecurity zone 2.

Red imported fire ant

• Movement within Queensland: Fire ant biosecurity zones map
• Interstate movement: Interstate plant quarantine zone map

Sugarcane plant pests

Queensland's commercial sugarcane production regions are located in the following biosecurity zones:

• Sugarcane biosecurity zone 1: Coen to Townsville
• Sugarcane biosecurity zone 2: Townsville to Abbot Point
• Sugarcane biosecurity zone 3: Abbot Point to Rockhampton
• Sugarcane biosecurity zone 4: Rockhampton to Victoria Point
• Sugarcane biosecurity zone 5: Victoria Point to New South Wales border
• Sugarcane biosecurity zone 6: Woodford special.

The Sugar cane biosecurity zone map (PDF, 366KB) shows the boundaries of each of these zones.

Restrictions also apply to moving sugar cane out of the Far Northern biosecurity zones (PDF, 334KB).

To limit the spread of pests and diseases, biosecurity laws restrict the movement within Queensland of certain plant material, soil and related equipment.

Documents required to move these items

If you want to move these items within Queensland, you will need to apply for either:

• a biosecurity certificate
• a biosecurity instrument permit
• a restricted matter permit
• a prohibited matter permit.

Most people who wish to move these items will need a biosecurity certificate. To receive a certificate, you must meet the requirements outlined in the Queensland biosecurity manual (PDF, 1MB). The manual sets out how you must treat, inspect, source and/or pack materials that present a biosecurity risk in order to receive a biosecurity certificate.

A biosecurity certificate for moving items within Queensland can be issued by an inspector appointed under the Biosecurity Act 2014. To apply for a biosecurity certificate, phone the Customer Service Centre on 13 25 23. Fees may apply.

Some items require a biosecurity instrument permit rather than a biosecurity certificate. To apply for a biosecurity instrument permit, download the biosecurity instrument permit application form.

Restricted items are listed below, with brief summaries of the documents required if you wish to move them.

For comprehensive information on restricted items, restrictions and requirements, read the Queensland biosecurity manual (PDF, 1MB).

Papaya plants

If you want to move papaya plants out of Papaya Ringspot Biosecurity Zone 1 in South East Queensland, you will need a biosecurity certificate.

Banana plants, soil and machinery

If you want to move banana plants (other than fruit), soil on which a banana plant has been growing, or machinery used in production of the plants out of any banana biosecurity zone, or into the Northern Banana Biosecurity Zone, you will need a biosecurity certificate.

Cucumber, melon, pumpkin, squash and zucchini plants

If you want to move cucumber, melon, pumpkin, squash and zucchini plants or other plants in the family Cucurbitaceae out of Papaya Ringspot Biosecurity Zone 2, you will need a biosecurity instrument permit.

Grape plants, soil and machinery

If you want to move grape plants, products of a grape plant (including wine and table grapes), soil associated with grape plants, or machinery used in their production into the state phylloxera exclusion zone, you will need a biosecurity certificate.

Material from the far northern biosecurity zones

Far North Queensland is a high-risk area for the introduction of plant pests and diseases from nearby Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The spread of pests into the rest of the state poses a significant risk to our agricultural industries.

Two far northern biosecurity zones have been established in the northern half of Cape York Peninsula to control movement of risk items that may carry pests and diseases south. High-risk pests and diseases, such as black Sigatoka, red banded mango caterpillar and island sugarcane planthopper, are included in these far northern biosecurity zone restrictions.

Moving plants, plant pests, soils and related equipment out of these zones requires a biosecurity instrument permit.

Items from fire ant biosecurity zones

If you are moving materials that may carry fire ants, within or outside of the fire ant biosecurity zones, you must take all reasonable steps to ensure you do not spread the pest.

Soil is considered a high-risk material for carrying fire ants. Mitigation measures for moving soil are outlined in the Biosecurity Regulation 2016.

You will need a biosecurity instrument permit before you move soil from a property:

• within zone 2 to a property in zone 1
• within the zones to a property outside of the zones.

Items from the electric ant biosecurity zone

Biosecurity instrument permits are required to move an electric ant carrier from a property within the electric ant biosecurity zone, unless your property is within the lesser restrictions area or the carrier is moved to an approved waste facility.

Electric ant carriers include:

• soil
• potted plants
• cuttings from plants
• fruit from plants
• a thing that has come into contact with the ground (e.g. bee hives, pot plants, garden furniture)
• turf
• mulch
• baled hay or straw
• composted materials
• animal manures
• material that is a product or by-product of mining or quarrying.

Sugarcane plants, soil and machinery

Sugarcane machinery must be cleaned (to be visibly free from soil and plant material) and inspected before it can be moved between sugarcane biosecurity zones in Queensland.

Sugarcane plants and soil on which sugarcane plants have been growing require a biosecurity certificate before being moved from a sugarcane biosecurity zone in Queensland.

Also consider...

• Learn more about certification for moving plants and plant products.
• Read the Banana Industry Biosecurity Guideline (PDF, 621KB) for practical advice for banana growers on managing biosecurity risks.
• Learn about the requirements for movement records for livestock.

To limit the spread of pests and diseases into Queensland, biosecurity laws restrict the movement into the state of certain plant material, soil and related equipment.

Documents required to move these items

Generally, if you want to move these items into Queensland, you will need to provide a biosecurity certificate.

The Queensland biosecurity manual (PDF, 1 MB) sets out how you must treat, inspect, source and/or pack materials that present a biosecurity risk in order to receive a biosecurity certificate.

A biosecurity certificate for moving items into Queensland can be issued by an appropriately authorised officer from an interstate authority or approved under interstate legislation. To apply for a biosecurity certificate to move items into Queensland, contact your local department of agriculture or primary industries in your state or territory. Fees may apply.

Restricted items are listed below, with brief summaries of the ways in which they are restricted.

For comprehensive information on restricted items, restrictions and requirements, read the Queensland biosecurity manual (PDF, 1 MB).

Tomato-potato psyllid carriers from Western Australia and Victoria

To help prevent the spread of tomato-potato psyllid (TPP), restrictions apply to moving plants, plant products, and appliances into Queensland from Western Australia and Victoria.

For comprehensive information on TPP carriers, restrictions and requirements:

• refer to the Queensland biosecurity manual (PDF, 1MB)
• contact the quarantine authority in your jurisdiction.

Banana plants, soil, and machinery

To help prevent the spread of banana plant pests, restrictions apply to moving the following items into Queensland:

• banana plants
• soil on which a banana plant has been growing
• machinery used for banana production.

Potato plants, soil and machinery from Victoria

To help prevent the spread of the potato cyst nematode, restrictions apply to moving the following items into Queensland from potato cyst nematode-infested land and linked land in Victoria:

• potato plants (including potato tubers) and plants from the family Solanaceae
• soil that has come into contact with these plants
• machinery used in their production.

Bee, bee products and associated equipment from Tasmania

To help prevent the spread of bee louse, restrictions apply to moving the following items into Queensland from Tasmania:

• bees
• apiary products, including bee-collected pollen, bee comb, comb sections, cut comb honey, honey dew, propolis, queen candy, raw beeswax, royal jelly, or unprocessed honey
• apiary appliance, including any apparatus, fitting, implement, or utensil that has been used for beekeeping or processing, handling, or storing an apiary product.

Cucumber, melon, pumpkin, squash and zucchini plants from the Northern Territory

To help prevent the spread of cucumber green mottle mosaic virus, restrictions apply to moving the following items into Queensland from the Northern Territory:

• cucumber, melon, pumpkin, squash and zucchini plants (but not fruit, unless attached to the plant) or any other plants from the family Cucurbitaceae
• soil that has come into contact with these plants
• appliances (including harvesting bins, knives, secateurs), packaging materials and machinery used in their production.

Grape plants, soil and machinery

To help prevent the spread of grape phylloxera, restrictions apply to moving the following items into Queensland:

• grape plants
• products of a grape plant (including wine and table grapes)
• soil associated with grape plants
• machinery used in their production.

Mango plants

To help prevent the spread of mango malformation disease, restrictions apply to moving mango plants that originate from a state or territory where mango malformation disease has been found into Queensland.

Mediterranean fruit fly (MFF) host fruit

To help prevent the spread of MFF, restrictions apply to moving MFF host fruit that has been grown at or within 7.5km of an MFF infestation into Queensland.

MFF hosts include most fruits – see the Queensland biosecurity manual (PDF, 1 MB) for a full list of hosts.

Hay, fodder, soil and machinery

To help prevent the spread of branched broomrape, a parasitic plant, restrictions apply to moving the following items into Queensland from South Australia:

• hay
• fodder
• straw
• soil
• machinery
• other carriers of branched broomrape.

In addition, it is an offence to introduce any prohibited or restricted invasive plants (e.g. tropical soda apple, miconia, Mexican bean tree) into Queensland by any means, including as a contaminant of hay, fodder or associated items.

Pine family plants, including cedar, fir pine and spruce from South Australia and Victoria

To help prevent the spread of giant pine scale, restrictions apply to moving the following items into Queensland from Victoria and South Australia:

• plants of the family Pinaceae, including cedar, fir, pine and spruce
• logs and timber
• pinebark.

Pine family plants and pine timber items from Western Australia

To help prevent the spread of European house borer, restrictions apply to moving the following items into Queensland from Western Australia:

• pine plants of the genera Abies, Picea, Pinus or Pseudotsuga
• pine timber items, including furniture, lumber and packaging.

Pyriform scale host plants from Western Australia

To help prevent the spread of pyriform scale, restrictions apply to moving potted plants that are hosts of pyriform scale into Queensland from Western Australia.

Pyriform scale hosts include plants from a large number of plant families; see the Queensland biosecurity manual (PDF, 1 MB) for a list of families that are restricted.

Sugarcane plants, soil and appliances

To help prevent the spread of sugarcane pests, restrictions apply to moving the following items into Queensland:

• sugarcane plants
• soil on which a sugarcane plant has been growing
• machinery used for sugarcane production.

Areas of Queensland with restricted access to interstate markets

Certain areas of Queensland have restricted access to interstate markets to help control the spread of pests and diseases across state and territory borders.

Different parts of Queensland are affected by different pests and diseases. You can see maps of the restricted areas for various pests and diseases at the links below:

The following maps show the parts of Queensland that have restrictions on interstate market access.

• Asparagus stem blight restricted zone
• Cercospora leaf spot affected area
• Electric ant movement control area maps
• Melon thrips (Thrips palmi) – North Queensland (contains Cook/Douglas, Bowen and North region restricted areas)
• Melon thrips (Thrips palmi) – South East Queensland
• Red imported fire ant (RIFA) – restricted area maps (including South East Queensland)
• Spiralling whitefly – (identifies 10km restricted areas north of Bundaberg).

Transporting items to other states and territories

Other states and territories have quarantine restrictions for plants, plant products and related items.

For information on these restrictions, visit the website of the relevant authority for the state or territory where the item is being moved to:

• NSW Department of Primary Industries (includes Australian Capital Territory)
• Agriculture Victoria
• Primary Industries and Regions SA
• Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment
• Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
• Northern Territory – plants and quarantine.

Quarantine information for private travellers

Visit the Australian Interstate Quarantine website for general information about quarantine restrictions in Australia.