More than 120 Eastern States exporters have been issued with a formal warning from the Western Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (WAQIS) for sending unidentified parcels of seed to Western Australia through the parcel post system.

Under the Western Australian Plant Diseases Regulations all seed entering the State must be accompanied by a list on the outside of the parcel identifying the species of seed being sent.

Senior WAQIS Inspector Bruce Hastings said with the cooperation of postal workers, detector dogs and a Rapiscan x-ray machine some 180 unidentified consignments were detected over a two month period.

“More than 120 warning letters were issued to consignors and importers of seed, with five companies fined a modified penalty of $150,“ he said.

“They are now getting the message that they must comply with the import conditions. This has led to a dramatic decline in offences over the last few weeks.”

The maximum penalty is $5000.

Mr Hastings said compliance was essential to maintain the State’s quarantine barrier in order to protect WA’s rural industries and environment from undesirable seeds and invasive weed species.

Information about the Western Australian seed import requirements is available on the Department’s website at www.agric.wa.gov.au/quarantine.