You need to obtain a "Phytosanitary Import Permit," which should be just a a formality for tillandsias, from:
Plants Programme Section
Quarantine and Export Operations
Australian Quarantine Inspection Service
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA, ACT 2601
Phone 02 6272 4578
Fax 02 6273 2097
Import conditions for Australia can be looked up at
http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/ex_querycontent.asp
In our experience, these are not required for shipments of tillandsia plants into Australia.
Government inspectors will normally treat the plants with methyl bromide, a toxic gas that kills all insects and sometimes damages plants. Ask them to keep the plants dry before they are treated, and for at least 24 hours afterwards. The plants will then be quarantined. Most entry points into Australia will have state quarantine facilities, you will need to ask your nearest office of the Ministry of Agriculture what quarantine facilities are available, and how much they will cost.
The prospect of treatment followed by quarantine can be daunting! If you are not prepared to go through the import process, we can pass your details on to a local Australian nurseryman supplier who has been in the business for a long time and has a considerable range of tillandsias available for mail order throughout Australia. If you want to pursue this alternative, advise us (and say how you want him to contact you).
This information is provided in good faith, based on the information available to us. We cannot be responsible if regulations in your country have changed, and you should take our outline as a guide only, and check with your own agriculture officials before ordering.
last updated May 10, 2005