Version 2.0

6.2 - QAP for Private quarantine facilities for aquatic plants
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This publication (and any material sourced from it) should be attributed as: Approved Arrangements section, 2015, QAP for Closed quarantine facilities for medium risk nursery stock, (QAP for Closed quarantine facilities for medium risk nursery stock criteria - prepared for the Department of Agriculture),
Canberra.
Department of Agriculture
Postal address GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601
Switchboard +61 2 6272 3933
Web agriculture.gov.au
Inquiries regarding the licence and any use of this document should be sent to: copyright@agriculture.gov.au
.
The Australian Government acting through the Department of Agriculture has exercised due care and skill in the preparation and compilation of the information and data in this publication. Notwithstanding, the department, its employees and advisers disclaim all liability, including liability for negligence, for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying upon any of the information or data in this publication to the maximum extent permitted by law.
Updates to this document will occur automatically on the department’s website and the revision table below will list the amendments as they are approved.
Date Version
09 May 2011 1.0
30 Jun 2013 1.1
Sept 2015 2.0
Amendments
Revised document
Updated departmental branding
Updated departmental branding and template.
Incorporated nonconformity rates.
Approved by
Co-regulation and
Support Program
Industry Arrangements
Reform Program
Approved
Arrangements section
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6.2 - QAP for Private quarantine facilities for aquatic plants
1 Premises location ........................................................................................................................... 5
2 Building and storage areas .............................................................................................................. 5
3 Construction................................................................................................................................... 5
4 Additional construction requirements for facilities which will house emergent, plant species........... 6
5 Waste disposal ............................................................................................................................... 6
6 Office and record requirements ...................................................................................................... 7
7 Administration ............................................................................................................................... 8
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6.2 - QAP for Private quarantine facilities for aquatic plants
This document sets out the requirements that must be met before the Director of Quarantine will consider approval of a premises to operate as a place for the performance of quarantine under section
46A of the Quarantine Act 1908, otherwise known as a Quarantine Approved Premises (QAP).
This QAP criteria specifies the requirements to be met for the approval, operation and audit of this class of QAP. Compliance with the QAP criteria will be assessed by audit.
In the event of any inconsistency between the QAP criteria and any Import Permit condition, the Import
Permit condition applies. If the Applicant chooses to use automatic language translation services in connection with this document, it is done so at the Applicant’s risk.
Unless specified otherwise, any references to ‘the department’ or ‘departmental’ means the Department of Agriculture. Any references to contacting the department mean contacting your closest regional office.
Further information on QAPs, QAP regional contact details and copies of relevant QAP documentation is available on the department’s website: agriculture.gov.au
.
Definitions that are not contained within the Approved Arrangements Glossary can be found in the most recent edition of the Macquarie Dictionary or in the Quarantine Act 1908.
The QAP Conditions of Approval and QAP General Policies should be read in conjunction with this QAP criteria. They will assist in understanding and complying with the obligations and requirements for the establishment and operation of a QAP.
The nonconformity classification against each criterion is provided as a guide only. If more than one nonconformity is listed against a criterion, the actual nonconformity applied will correspond to the gravity of the issue. The nonconformity recorded against any criteria remains at the discretion of the Quarantine
Officer.
Nonconformity classifications are detailed in the QAP General Policies.
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6.2 - QAP for Private quarantine facilities for aquatic plants
Criteria Nonconformity guide
1 Premises location
1.1
Premises must generally be located within the metropolitan area of a declared port that has a permanently based Quarantine Officer. Applications are subject to approval by the Director of Quarantine and will be considered on their individual merits with consideration being given to the quarantine risk and serviceability associated with the location of each premises.
N/A
2 Building and storage areas
2.1
Areas where goods subject to quarantine are stored, handled or treated must display a sign to effectively convey that status.
3 Construction
Major
3.1
The quarantine house must be a separate unit used only for the post-entry quarantine of aquatic plants for which approval has been granted whilst it is approved for the introduction of plants. The quarantine house may be adjacent to existing facilities, provided a functional/structural barrier is maintained between each area. The barrier must effectively prevent the flow of air and the possible spread of fungal spores from the quarantine area to plants of a similar species.
Critical
3.2
The quarantine house must be a substantial, properly constructed structure.
Major
3.3
The quarantine house must be of a size commensurate with the proposed quantity of imports to be quarantined at the facility and have a minimum of
10 m² of floor space.
3.4
The quarantine house must be fully equipped with a concrete floor (or acceptable impervious substitute) that drains to a suitable soil trap which is connected to sewerage or septic tank.
Minor
Critical
3.5
The tanks holding the plants are to be placed inside a tray, the bottom of which is to contain a dilute solution of copper sulphate at a concentration of no less than 0.02g/100 L of copper sulphate. Alternative methods for the use of copper sulphate to ensure that the tanks are snail proof will be considered on a case by case basis.
Major
3.6
The cladding must be substantial. While rigid material is preferred, film plastics may be used. The minimum requirement for film plastic cladding is a double layer of 250 micron thick poly film. Providing they meet the
Critical
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6.2 - QAP for Private quarantine facilities for aquatic plants
Criteria minimum requirements, plastic films can be approved by the department.
Renewal should only be made after an inspection to ascertain that the structure is in good condition and likely to remain intact for at least one year.
Nonconformity guide
3.7
Doors and doorways into the quarantine area are to be properly constructed and fitted with appropriate seals on the top, bottom and sides. The doors are to be provided with locks and handles enabling them to be opened and closed from either side. A self-closing fitting is required on either the internal or external door.
Major
3.8
Where a facility is deemed to be insecure and adequate repairs cannot be carried out immediately, the plant material present must be ordered to a secure quarantine premises until repairs have been carried out to the satisfaction of the Quarantine Officer.
3.9
The aquatic plant-house is to be kept locked at all times except when access by authorised persons is required.
3.10
Access to the quarantine house must not be through any other areas where plant material is being grown, i.e. the quarantine house must have its own entrance.
4 Additional construction requirements for facilities which will house emergent, plant species
4.1
The quarantine house must have an insect-proof door entrance porch or lock. The entrance porch or lock must be of sufficient area to permit the entry of people, plants and trolleys into the lock to ensure that only one door may be open at any one time.
N/A
Major
Major
Major
4.2
The quarantine house must be maintained in an insect proof state. The cladding must be sturdy and affixed in a manner which effectively excludes insects. Openings (including evaporative cooling systems) in the facility must be covered with permanently fixed gauze with a maximum aperture of 0.5 mm or 500 microns. Whilst metal gauze is preferred, synthetic meshes may be used. Synthetic meshes can be approved by the department, provided they retain the minimum aperture dimensions when fixed in place. For this reason welded mesh is preferred to woven mesh types. Where plastic mesh is used, the responsible officer must ensure that the mesh is maintained intact to specification for the duration of approval.
Critical
5 Waste disposal
5.1
Quarantine waste must be disposed of in a manner approved by the
Critical
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6.2 - QAP for Private quarantine facilities for aquatic plants
Criteria department.
5.2
Sufficient containers of an appropriate size labelled: Quarantine Waste, are to be provided for loose items, residues, spillages or material of quarantine concern. Such containers must have lids that remain closed and are to be emptied and, if required, disinfected in accordance with any provisions set by the department.
5.3
Department approved methods of solid quarantine waste disposal include incineration at a high temperature in a high efficiency Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) approved incineration facility, deep burial, or sterilisation by autoclaving.
5.4
Minimum autoclaving times after attainment of temperature for goods, residues or quarantine waste shall be:
 121 degrees Celsius (core temperature) for 15 minutes, or
 121 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes where core temperature is not measured.
5.5
Where the 15 minute autoclaving time is used, the premises holder must specify how the core temperature has been reached and detail how this temperature was recorded.
6 Office and record requirements
Nonconformity guide
Major
Critical
Critical
Critical
6.1
Records are to be made available, within a reasonable time, for inspection by Quarantine Officers. In addition, these records must be retained at these premises for a minimum period of 18 months during which time they will, upon request, be made available to a Quarantine Officer.
Minor or major
6.2
A register must be maintained recording incoming and outgoing plants, plant deaths and inspection dates.
Critical
6.3
Records for each consignment of goods subject to quarantine must include:
 quarantine direction
 Import Permit number (if applicable)
 description of the goods subject to quarantine (including scientific names and quantities, if applicable)
 date of receipt of goods and country of origin
 details of any treatments
 method and date of disposal/destruction of goods subject to quarantine and/or quarantine waste
Major
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6.2 - QAP for Private quarantine facilities for aquatic plants


Criteria the date of movement and the department's permission for any movement of goods subject to quarantine comprehensive details of any breaches of goods subject to quarantine from the facility.
7 Administration
Nonconformity guide
7.1
Premises must be securely locked when unattended and after hour access to the premises must be limited to authorised persons only.
Major or critical
7.2
Control and security of the quarantine area is the responsibility of the nominated senior person of the company. The name, designation/position title and contact details of the nominated person must be supplied with the application and at each renewal.
7.3
The department is to be notified in writing at least 15 days prior to changes in ownership, senior management, operating procedures/arrangements relating to goods subject to quarantine or where modifications to those parts of the premises where goods subject to quarantine are stored or treated are planned.
N/A
Major
7.4
Department instructions and relevant department Import Permit conditions must be complied with. Where goods are handled for a third party, it is a requirement of approval that establishment operators have an arrangement in place that ensures they are aware of any relevant permit conditions.
Major
7.5
Applications are to be accompanied by scale drawings of the proposed area and quarantine storage, treatment/processing facilities including parking for
Quarantine Officers. In the case of new constructions these plans must be approved before any construction is undertaken.
N/A
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