The short answer: both countries let coco peat in, but on their own terms. In Australia the import conditions sit in the BICON database under a "Coir peat" case. Plain coir peat and coir with additives are treated differently there, with blends far more likely to need a permit, and every shipment can be inspected for soil, seeds and insects. In New Zealand coco peat falls under MPI's import health standard for fertilisers and growing media of plant origin. The central demand is freedom from viable weed seeds, proven by testing, treatment or controlled use. Goods that fail are treated, re-exported or destroyed at the importer's cost.
General sourcing steps are in our guide to importing coco peat from India. This article covers what's different about these two markets.
Why these two markets are strict
Australia and New Zealand are islands with farming and native ecosystems that have never met many of the pests and weeds common elsewhere. Their biosecurity laws work on keeping things out rather than controlling them after arrival.
Coir has a particular history in New Zealand. In October 2007 two shipments of coir fibre from Sri Lanka brought weed seeds into the country. The material went into potting mix and from there to at least 300 nurseries before a nursery worker noticed unfamiliar seedlings in early 2008. Officials first identified 15 weed species new to New Zealand. Later monitoring of coco peat imports in 2008 and 2009 identified 44 plant species, 31 of them new to the country. The authorities then began heat-treating imported coir fibre on arrival. Today's seed-free rules grew out of that.
Coco peat is dried in the open in producing countries. That's how it can pick up soil, seeds and insects, and it's exactly what both inspectorates look for.
Australia: BICON and the coir peat case
BICON is Australia's import conditions database. Every regulated good has a case, and the case tells you whether you need a permit, what documents to provide, and what treatment or inspection applies. The conditions shown for your product and origin on the day of import are the ones that count.
What the coir peat case covers. Coir peat imported for use as a growth medium, mulch or fertiliser, typically in compressed bricks or bales. Biodegradable pots made from coir have their own separate case.
Permit. BICON treats plain coir peat and coir with additives as separate cases. Plain coir that meets the conditions has generally been allowed in without an import permit, while blends with other materials carry more risk and are far more likely to need one. Check the current case for your exact product. If you plan to import a blend, apply for the permit before the goods ship. Where a permit is issued, its conditions take precedence over the general BICON text.
Inspection. Expect the goods to be inspected on arrival to confirm they're free of soil, live insects, seeds, plant debris and other contaminants. Inspection may happen at the wharf, at a depot or at an approved arrangement site.
Declarations. Where BICON asks for a manufacturer's declaration, Australia accepts it only from the company that made the goods, and it must carry the exact statements the conditions require. Ask your supplier to copy the wording from BICON, not paraphrase it.
Packing declaration. Every sea container needs a packing declaration from whoever packed it. It states what packing materials were used and whether any timber or bamboo is treated, untreated or ISPM 15 compliant. For full container loads it also includes a cleanliness statement. Untreated timber packaging gets treated on arrival at your cost.
Customs side. You or your broker lodge an import declaration and pay GST at 10% on the value of the goods plus duty and transport costs. Check the duty rate and classification for your exact product. Our article on the HS code for coco peat explains why codes for coir vary.
New Zealand: the import health standard
New Zealand sets its conditions in import health standards. Coco peat products, including blocks, bales, grow slabs and grow bags for horticultural use, come under the standard for fertilisers and growing media of plant origin. A revised version came into force on 13 May 2025.
The standard's aim for coco peat is simple: no viable seeds. It gives importers several routes to show that, broadly:
| Route | How it works |
|---|---|
| Testing or treatment before export | The coir is tested or treated in the exporting country and the documents travel with the consignment |
| Grow-out test on arrival | An MPI inspector takes a random sample and grows it out to check for viable seeds while the goods are held |
| Treatment in New Zealand | The consignment is treated at an approved facility on arrival |
| Controlled use | Grow slabs and grow bags go to an approved transitional facility and are used and disposed of there under set conditions |
Treatments that have been accepted for coco peat include heat treatment to a core temperature of 85°C for at least 15 hours at about 40% relative humidity, and autoclaving at 120°C for 30 minutes. Heat-processed products may need a manufacturer's declaration stating the core temperature reached and how long it was held. MPI realigned the accepted treatments in a 2024 amendment, so check the current schedule rather than relying on these figures.
Permit. Earlier versions of the standard required an import permit for most coco peat. The 2024 amendment removed it for several options. Whether you need one now depends on the route you choose.
Phytosanitary certificate. Plan on needing one, and check which additional declarations your chosen route requires. Our guide to phytosanitary certificates for coco peat covers what goes on it and why certificates get rejected.
Long coir fibre products such as matting have historically been treated differently from coco peat. Check the standard if you import fibre goods.
Comparing the two
| Point | Australia | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Where the rules live | BICON "Coir peat" case | Import health standard for fertilisers and growing media of plant origin |
| Main concern | Soil, seeds, insects and other contaminants | Viable weed seeds above all |
| Permit for plain coir | Not needed if BICON conditions are met | Depends on the clearance route chosen |
| Additives | Usually need a permit | Check the standard. Other organic materials have their own rules |
| On arrival | Inspection, packing declaration, possible treatment | Inspection plus testing, treatment or controlled use |
| If it fails | Exported, treated or destroyed | Treated, re-shipped or destroyed |
What to ask your supplier
- Is the coco peat pure, with nothing organic added?
- Where is it dried and stored, and how do you keep soil and weed seed out?
- Can you meet the treatment or testing route I've chosen, and document it in the required wording?
- Can you provide a manufacturer's declaration in your own company's name?
- Will you use ISPM 15 or plastic pallets and complete the packing declaration?
- Has the material ever been used for growing?
Treatment doesn't make coir sterile in a lab sense, and it doesn't need to. See is coco coir sterile? for what that means for growers.
Both countries update their conditions regularly. Check the current BICON case or MPI standard, and confirm with the department or your broker, before every new product or supplier.
FAQ
Do I need an import permit for coco peat in Australia?
Plain coir peat that meets the conditions in the BICON coir peat case has generally been allowed in without a permit, while coir with additives is far more likely to need one. Check the current case for your product and origin before shipping.
What does BICON say about coir peat?
BICON has a "Coir peat" case for coir imported as a growth medium, mulch or fertiliser, usually as compressed bricks or bales. It sets out documents, inspection and any treatment needed, and separates out coir with additives, which needs a permit. Coir pots have their own case.
Does coco peat have to be heat treated for New Zealand?
Not necessarily. Heat treatment is one way to show freedom from viable seeds, but the standard also allows testing before export, grow-out testing on arrival and controlled use of slabs and bags in an approved facility. Choose the route before ordering, because it decides what your supplier must do and document.
Why is New Zealand so strict about coir?
Weed seeds arrived in coir from Sri Lanka in 2007, spread through potting mix to hundreds of nurseries, and introduced weed species new to the country. The seed-free requirements and testing options grew out of that experience. New Zealand's isolation means new weeds and pests can be costly to control once established.
What is a packing declaration for Australia?
It's a document from whoever packed the sea container stating what packing materials were used and whether any timber or bamboo is treated, untreated or ISPM 15 compliant. Full container loads also need a cleanliness statement. Missing or wrong declarations lead to inspections and delays.
What happens if coco peat fails inspection in Australia or New Zealand?
The goods are usually treated, re-exported or destroyed, at the importer's cost. Soil, seeds and live insects are the common findings. Clean storage at origin and correct documents are the best ways to avoid it.
Can I import coco grow bags into New Zealand?
Yes. Grow slabs and bags are covered by the same standard as other coco peat products. One route lets them go to an approved transitional facility, where they're used and disposed of under set conditions. Other routes rely on testing or treatment.
Plan your shipment
CVM Fiber and Industries in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India makes coco peat blocks, briquettes, grow bags, open-top bags, husk chips and bristle fibre, washed with water to reduce EC and with no calcium nitrate or other chemicals. Contact us with your destination and chosen clearance route and we'll go through what's needed.