Waste on board vessels

Vessel waste includes dry stores, cooked and uncooked meat, vegetable scraps and eggs, which may contain exotic pests and diseases such as Khapra beetle, fruit fly, Newcastle disease and foot and mouth disease. Australia is free from many exotic pests and diseases and we want to keep it that way.

What is the risk to Australia?

Waste stored incorrectly on deck areas could become a breeding ground for exotic pests and diseases, potentially jeopardising Australia's fruit and vegetable production industries. Waste could also become food for native wildlife.

An outbreak of an exotic disease in native wildlife would be extremely difficult to contain or eradicate.

The transmission of diseases such as foot and mouth disease and Newcastle disease by native wildlife to domesticated stock has the potential to devastate Australia's valuable domestic and export agricultural industries.

AQIS requirements—what you need to do

It is the Master's responsibility to ensure that:

• all waste is stored in sound, animal leak proof facilities and is presented for collection at Australian ports
• waste held on vessels and wharves cannot be accessed by birds, rodents, insects or other animals
• all deck areas are free from waste including egg, meat, fruit and vegetable cartons
• you do not empty holding tanks or use refuse grinders or garbage chutes while in Australian ports or waters
• the crew do not use food scraps or meat as bait while fishing in Australian ports or waters
• at regular intervals, present all quarantine waste to collectors authorised by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
• you immediately contact AQIS on 1800 020 504 if quarantine waste is stored incorrectly or found to be infested with any type of insect, pest or disease.

More information

Website
Phone: 1800 020 504 (free call in Australia)
Email