Restricted Matter

​​​​​​​​​Definition of "restr​icted matter"

Secti​on 21 of the Biosecurity Act 2019 (the Act) defines “restricted matter” as follows:

21. Restricted matter

​(1) Biosecurity matter or a carrier, or a class of biosecurity matter or carriers, is restricted matter if –

(a) it is an animal or plant, or an animal or plant product, that is not permitted matter or prohibited matter; or
(b) it is an animal disease or plant disease that is not permitted matter or prohibited matter; or

(c) it is declared by the Minister under subsection (2) to be restricted matter.

(2) The Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, declare biosecurity matter or a carrier, or a class of biosecurity matter or carriers, to be restricted matter if the Minister is satisfied on reasonable grounds that –

(a) the biosecurity matter or carrier, or class of biosecurity matter or carriers, poses a biosecurity risk to Tasmania or a part of Tasmania; and

​(b) the declaration is necessary to prevent, eliminate, minimise, control or manage the biosecurity risk posed by the biosecurity matter or carrier, or class of biosecurity matter or carriers.

 The importation of restricted matter into Tasmania (except under a permit) is an offence under sectio​n 75​ of the Act. ​

Current list of restricted matter

​1. All plants and plant products that are not permitted matter or prohibited matter​

2. All animals and animal products that are not permitted matter or prohibited matter

3. All animal diseases that are not permitted matter or prohibited matter​

4. All plant diseases and pests​ that are not permitted matter or prohibited matter

5. Soil

6. Restricted animal fittings

7. Restricted horticultural material

​For the purposes of this list:

“restricted animal fitting” includes –

(a) any box, stall, cage, enclosure, tank, pen, hive, water, or other thing, that has been used for containing an animal that is not permitted matter; and

(b) any harness, saddlery, rope, net, aquarium pump, bucket, trough, bedding, utensil, implement, equipment, or other thing, that has been used in the transportation, capture, breeding, feeding, handling or keeping of an animal, or animal product that is not permitted matter; and

"restricted horticultural material” includes any plant, and any –

(a) animal product and animal fitting; and

(b) harvest-equipment, machinery, vehicle, container, pot, soil, structure, tool or other thing – that is, or has been, used to carry, hold, handle, cultivate, propagate, grow, harvest, process or produce any plant or plant product that is not permitted matter; and

​​“soil” means the top layer of the earth, consisting of rock and mineral particulates that may be mixed with organic matter in which plants grow or are grown.

​Restricted Plants (including seeds) of significant biosecurity concern

If restricted plats (whole plants or any form of viable plant propagule such as seeds) are found as contaminants of plant or plant product at the biosecurity barrier, the import will be assessed, and regulartory action may be taken to prevent their entry. Regulatory action may include re-export or destruction of consignment.

Plants or Plant Products

​Plant diseases​

Other biosecurity matter listings