Preventing and minimising the spread of pests and diseases is important because, once established, they can be difficult and expensive to eradicate or control.
The department through Quarantine WA enforces biosecurity legislation, works to prevent the introduction of exotic pests, diseases and weeds and has the power to detain any goods that are deemed risk items or goods which are not accompanied by the correct documentation.
Report suspicious activities
Please report suspicious activities such as the illegal importation or sale of illegal animals or plants, or the keeping of exotic animals or birds to AgWatch for further investigation.
AgWatch Report form - Crime Stoppers WAImporting to Western Australia
Under biosecurity legislation, any item that poses a biosecurity risk should be referred to quarantine inspectors for assessment. You must check that any items you intend to import are permitted into Western Australia (WA) and further check for any restrictions and requirements that may be applicable.
All imported organisms and potential carriers must be declared to Quarantine WA and certain requirements must be met. Commercial transporters must declare 24 hours prior to arrival at a checkpoint using the approved Notice of Intent to Import form. Organisms must be listed as permitted in the WA Organism List. You are also required to check the WA Import Requirement Search for any conditions of entry relating to that product.
Internet trading
The availability of an item on an internet-trading site does not imply that it is legal to import it into WA or that importation is unrestricted. The buyer must comply with WA's import requirements when importing online purchases.
View WA import requirement search
Visit the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for information relating to overseas movements.
Exporting from Western Australia
Western Australia has some pests and diseases which are of concern to other states such as Mediterranean fruit fly, green snail, tomato potato psyllid, melon thrips and lupin anthracnose.
Before you export goods, it is advisable to check in the first instance the import requirements of other states. Quarantine WA offers some co-regulatory arrangements to assist commercial exporters meet quarantine requirements.
Related links
- Tasmania: Department of Natural Resources and Environment
- Agriculture Victoria
- New South Wales: Department of Primary Industries
- Queensland: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
- Northern Territory: Northern Territory information and services
- South Australia: Department of Primary Industries and Regions
- Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007