COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
DECLARATION OF AN APPROVED DEVELOPMENTAL WILDLIFE TRADE OPERATION
DIEMEN PEPPER - HARVEST OF TASMANNIA LANCEOLATA (TASMANIAN NATIVE PEPPER) FROM TASMANIA – 2025-2028
I, Belinda Jago, Branch Head, Ocean and Wildlife Branch, as Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Water am satisfied that the operation conducted by Diemen Pepper to harvest Tasmannia lanceolata (mountain pepper) for commercial export, is a Developmental Wildlife Trade Operation, as defined by regulation 9A.20(3) under subsection 303FN(10)(c).
I declare under subsection 303FN(2) that the Diemen Pepper - Harvest of Tasmannia Lanceolata (Tasmanian native pepper) from Tasmania – 2025-2028 is an approved developmental Wildlife Trade Operation.
This declaration has effect subject to the following conditions applied under section 303FT:
- The operation must be carried out in accordance with the Wildlife Trade Operation - Harvest of Tasmannia lanceolata (Tasmanian native pepper) from Tasmania proposal, dated 26 August 2024.
- The maximum annual harvest for export is 15,000 kilograms (15 tonnes) of fresh berries, and 15,000 kilograms (15 tonnes) of fresh leaves of Tasmannia lanceolata.
- Harvest of leaves and berries and the removal of stem from Tasmannia lanceolata must not exceed 25% of the biomass of a plant, except:
- When harvest occurs in orchards as specified in the plan; or
- When the shrub will be destroyed on leasehold sites, licensed areas, or forestry plantations, where plantation harvest is occurring.
- All activities covered by this approval must be carried out in accordance with state and commonwealth law.
- Harvest from private land must be undertaken with property owner consent.
- Diemen Pepper must keep copies of all licences and authorisations in relation to the harvest and purchase of Tasmannia lanceolata and provide to the department as requested.
- The program must comply with standards set regarding relevant pests and diseases as described by Biosecurity Tasmania under the Tasmanian Government.
- Tasmannia lanceolata must not be harvested within Athrotaxis selaginoides subalpine scrub communities.
- The declaration is valid for three (3) years from the date of its registration on the Federal Register of Legislation.
- Diemen Pepper must submit a harvest and monitoring report to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water every 6 months. The first report is due by 1 November 2025.
The report must include:
- Total fresh weight of Tasmannia lanceolata berries and leaves harvested, in kilograms.
- Total dried weight of Tasmannia lanceolata berries and leaves harvested, in kilograms, with the conversion details.
- A list of harvest locations including coordinates, with the following information:
- Total fresh weight of Tasmannia lanceolata berries and leaves harvested from each location, in kilograms.
- Dates of harvest at each location
- Type and number of the harvesters (Diemen Pepper employee, private, etc.)
- Discussion on Diemen Pepper’s approach to management of the site, including management of compliance with the harvest guide and details of non-compliance.
- A summary of Diemen Pepper’s export market for Tasmannia lanceolata.
- A summary of harvested Tasmannia lanceolata owned by Diemen Pepper at the time of reporting (stock on hand).
- A summary of investigations into harvest impacts on plant health and population dynamics, based on the recommendation in the Enviro-Dynamics report. Survey methodology, survey timing and the outcomes must be included. If no progress has been made, reasons for this must be reported.
Dated this 28th day of May 2025
Belinda Jago
………….…….……………………….........
Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Water
Under section 266 of the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 (ART Act), decision-makers must give notice of a decision and review rights to any person affected by the decision (section 266 of the ART Act). In giving the notice, decision-makers must have regard to the Administrative Review Tribunal Rules 2024 (section 267 of the ART Act).
A person whose interests are affected by this decision may, within 28 days, apply in writing to the Department of the Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, for the statement of reasons for the decision (section 268 of the ART Act).
If they are not satisfied with the decision, or the statement of reasons, an application for independent merits review of the decision (under section 303GJ(1) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) may be made to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), on payment of the relevant fee (currently $1,121 or reduced fee where applicable due to financial hardship) by the applicant.
This can take place either within 28 days of receipt of the reasons for the decision, or within 28 days of this declaration, if reasons for the decision are not sought. Applications should be made directly to the ART. Please visit the ART’s website at https://www.art.gov.au/ for further information. You can provide feedback or make a complaint about the general services ART staff provide relating to your case through the enquiry form provided on the ART website linked above.
You may make an application under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) to access documents relevant to this decision. For further information, please visit https://www.dcceew.gov.au/about/reporting/freedom-of-information.
Further enquiries should be directed to: Director of Wildlife Trade Assessments, Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, Telephone: (Australia) 1800 075 065 or (international) +61 5156 5063 Email: wta@environment.gov.au.