PNG takes biosecurity seriously, and for good reason: its agriculture and environment are vulnerable to pests that Australia has spent decades keeping out of its own farms. For shippers, that means NAQIA's checks are as important as Customs', and goods aren't released until both are satisfied.
This guide explains what NAQIA looks for, how inspections work and how to prepare cargo so it passes first time. It's part of our complete guide to shipping from Australia to PNG.
Key points
- NAQIA inspects imported goods, packaging and dunnage, and reconciles them against any import permits.
- All timber packaging must be ISPM 15 treated and marked before departure; non-compliant timber can be treated at extra cost or rejected.
- Used vehicles and machinery must be free of soil and plant material; NAQIA can require treatment, cleaning or reshipping.
- Many animal and plant products need a NAQIA import permit before shipping.
- Pets need prior approval from the Chief Quarantine Officer and can only enter PNG as cargo.
What NAQIA does
The National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority manages PNG's biosecurity at the border. For imported cargo, that means checking that goods, their packaging and the containers they travel in don't bring in pests, diseases or contaminants, and that any goods needing an import permit have one.
When cargo arrives, NAQIA reconciles the documents, including permits, then inspects the goods, the dunnage and the packaging where required. If something doesn't meet requirements, importers are generally offered the option to treat it where a treatment exists, clean it in the case of vehicles and machinery, or reship it.
ISPM 15 timber packaging
Untreated wood can carry wood-boring insects, so PNG requires all wood packaging, including pallets, crates, skids and dunnage, to be treated and marked under ISPM 15, the international standard for wood packaging. Non-compliant packaging can attract extra quarantine charges, treatment or rejection.
A compliant ISPM 15 mark shows:
- the IPPC logo
- the two-letter country code, such as AU
- the registered producer or treatment provider number
- the treatment code, HT for heat treatment or MB for methyl bromide fumigation.
Plastic pallets and reconstituted wood products such as plywood or presswood pallets aren't covered by ISPM 15, which makes them a simple way to avoid the issue.
Import permits
Many animal and plant products need a NAQIA import permit before they're shipped. That includes many foods, seeds, plants and plant material, animal products and live animals. The permit is usually arranged by the importer in PNG, and its conditions, such as treatments or certificates, must be met in Australia before the goods leave. The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's Micor database also sets out PNG's requirements for many plant products.
PNG has also used permits to manage imports for trade reasons. In 2015 it imposed a moratorium on import permits for fresh foods, including fruit, vegetables and uncooked poultry. Conditions change, so check them before every new product. Our guide to shipping refrigerated and food cargo to PNG covers food in more detail.
Vehicles, machinery and containers
Used vehicles and machinery are a major biosecurity risk because soil and plant material get trapped in undercarriages, tracks, radiators and buckets. NAQIA inspects them on arrival and can require cleaning, treatment or reshipping. For major projects, it has also used pre-inspection to manage large volumes of heavy machinery.
Professional cleaning before export is far cheaper than cleaning or treatment in PNG. See our guides to shipping a car to PNG and shipping project cargo and mining equipment.
Containers themselves are checked too. Make sure empty containers are free of soil, seeds, insects and plant debris before loading.
Pets and live animals
Importing a pet into PNG requires prior approval from the Chief Quarantine Officer, and pets can only enter as cargo, not as accompanied baggage. Removalists' guides note that dogs and cats from Australia and New Zealand have historically had a short quarantine period on arrival compared with animals from other countries. Start the approval process well before you travel, and confirm the current requirements with NAQIA.
A pre-shipment biosecurity checklist
- Use ISPM 15 marked timber, or plastic or reconstituted wood packaging.
- Clean vehicles, machinery, tools and outdoor equipment of all soil and plant material.
- Check whether any goods need a NAQIA import permit, and get a copy before shipping.
- Meet any treatment or certification conditions in the permit before the goods leave Australia.
- Make sure the container is clean inside and out.
- Describe goods clearly on the packing list, so inspectors can find what they need to check.
Some goods are banned outright rather than controlled by permit. See our guide to prohibited and restricted imports into PNG, and for what happens when inspections hold cargo, avoiding cargo delays in PNG.
Frequently asked questions
Are plastic pallets acceptable for PNG?
Yes. ISPM 15 applies to solid wood packaging, so plastic pallets and reconstituted wood products such as plywood and presswood avoid the treatment requirement.
Do I need a fumigation certificate for every shipment?
Not usually. Compliant ISPM 15 marks cover timber packaging. A fumigation or treatment certificate is needed when the goods themselves, or an import permit, require treatment.
Who applies for a NAQIA import permit?
Usually the importer in PNG. The Australian exporter should check the permit is in place and meet its conditions before shipping.
Part of our complete guide
This article is one step in Shipping from Australia to PNG: The Complete Guide. Other guides in the "documents, customs, and compliance" stage:
This guide is general information, current at the date of last review. Rates, schedules, duty rates and procedures change, so confirm the details of your shipment with a licensed freight forwarder or customs broker before you act.