The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry administers the Biosecurity Act 2015, Export Control Act 2020, Imported Food Control Act 1992 and various other Acts in order to protect Australia's animal, plant and human health status and to maintain market access for Australian food and other agricultural exports.
If you import or export goods to or from Australia or are associated with the movements of vessels or aircraft to Australia, you should be aware of your responsibilities under Australian law.
The Biosecurity Act 2015 (Biosecurity Act) commenced on 16 June 2016. It is co-administered by the Minister responsible for Agriculture and the Minister responsible for Health.
A strong biosecurity system helps protect our way of life from the threat of exotic pests and diseases to our unique environment, the economy, our health and our agricultural industries.
The risks posed by exotic pests and diseases are increasing due to growing international passenger and trade volumes, population expansion, the emergence of new pests and diseases and regional development.
The Biosecurity Act 2015 strengthens and modernises our biosecurity system, making sure it is up to the challenges of the future. All primary and subordinate biosecurity legislation can be found on the Federal Register of Legislation.
Read more about how the Act is administered and its impact on specific industries and trade.
Primary legislation and regulations
The primary legislation that provides the legal powers for all of Australia’s biosecurity activities is the Biosecurity Act 2015.
A history of the amendments made to the Biosecurity Act.
There are two regulations made under the Act:
- The Biosecurity Regulations 2016 (administered by the Department of Agriculture); and
- The Biosecurity (Human Health) Regulations 2016 (administered by the Department of Health and Aged Care).
Biosecurity Goods Determinations
There are five Goods Determinations that provide additional detail on imports under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
- Biosecurity (Conditionally Non-prohibited Goods) Determination 2021
- Biosecurity (Prohibited and Conditionally Non-prohibited Goods – Torres Strait) Determination 2016
- Biosecurity (Prohibited and Conditionally Non-prohibited Goods – Christmas Island) Determination 2016
- Biosecurity (Prohibited and Conditionally Non-prohibited Goods – Cocos (Keeling) Islands) Determination 2016
- Biosecurity (Prohibited and Conditionally Non-prohibited Goods – Norfolk Island) Determination 2016
Lists referenced in the Biosecurity Goods Determinations
These lists provide extra clarification on the Biosecurity Goods Determinations. They should be read together for a full understanding of legislative requirements.
- Species of Dried or Preserved Cut Flowers and Foliage with Alternative Conditions for Import
- Permitted Seeds List
- Plant Fibres with Alternative Import Conditions
- Fresh Produce for Human Consumption with Alternative Conditions for Import
- Permitted Allium spp. Seeds
- Permitted Arecaceae (palm) Seeds
- Semi-synthetic, Fermentation-derived Active Ingredients List
- Species of Mushrooms or Truffles to be Treated by Freezing with Alternative Conditions for Import
- Species of Mushrooms or Truffles to be Treated by Drying with Alternative Conditions for Import
- FMD-Free Country List
- Overseas Authorities – Aquatic Animals for Import
- List of Countries for Canine Semen
- List of Countries for Natural Casings Derived from Bovine, Caprine, Ovine or Porcine Animals
- List of Microalgae with Alternative Conditions for Import
- List of Species of Medicinal Mushrooms or Fungi with Alternative Conditions for Import
- List of Fresh Produce for Human Consumption with Alternative Conditions (Norfolk Island)
- List of Species of Fresh Cut Flowers and Foliage with Alternative Conditions for Import – Mainland
- List of Species of Fresh Cut Flowers and Foliage with Alternative Conditions for Import – Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- List of Species of Fresh Cut Flowers and Foliage with Alternative Conditions for Import – Norfolk Island
- List of Biosecurity Preparedness Plans
- List of Goods That May Carry Hitchhiker Pests
- List of Hitchhiker Pests
- List of Hitchhiker Pest Host Countries or Regions
- List of Treatment Providers
- List of High-risk Goods for Host of Khapra Beetle
- List of Other-risk Goods (Including Mode of Arrival and End Use) for Host of Khapra Beetle
- List of Target-risk Countries for Host of Khapra Beetle
- List of Other-risk Countries for Host of Khapra Beetle
- List of Trogoderma Species of Biosecurity Concern
- List of Approved Ingredients for Retail Packaged Veterinary Therapeutics and Cosmetics for Animals
Other lists related to import conditions
- listed approved ingredient for animal-related purposes
- listed approved ingredient that is not for direct exposure to livestock
- listed approved ingredient in retail-ready goods for animal-related purposes
- listed approved ingredient in retail-ready goods that are not for direct exposure to livestock
- Sheep Pox and Goat Pox-Free Country List
- List of species of mushrooms and truffles permitted for import into Norfolk Island from Australia
- LSD-Free Country List
- Countries Approved for Animal Fluids and Tissues
- Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Country list
- TSE risk categories of tissues and fluids
- Pathogens of animal biosecurity concern for biological products
- Highly Processed Tallow Derivatives List
- List of approved ingredients for goods with an environmental end use
- List of approved ingredients for biological cleaning agents, odour neutralisers and sanitisation products
- List of approved microbes for biological cleaning agents, odour neutralisers and sanitisation products
- List of approved ingredients for pet food and supplements for companion animals
- List of approved microorganisms for use in the production of enzymes
- List of wild caught, unrestricted bony fish approved for aquaculture and bait use
- List of approved product components used to manufacture veterinary therapeutics
- List of low, medium and high risk finfish species for human consumption
- List of approved starter cultures
- List of standard laboratory microorganisms and infectious agents
- List of Highly refined organic chemicals and substances
- List of approved countries for importing laboratory animals for laboratory use only
- List of approved countries and overseas authorities for prawns
- List of Approved Countries and Overseas Authorities for Salmon
- List of Overseas Authorities for live cats and dogs
- List of countries approved for pig meat
- List of permitted live freshwater and marine ornamental fish
- List of approved countries for live freshwater and marine ornamental fish
Instruments related to ballast water
- Ballast water
- Biosecurity (Ballast Water and Sediment) Determination 2017
- Biosecurity (Ballast Water Same Risk Areas) Instrument 2017
- Biosecurity (Notice of Commencement of Ballast Water Convention) Instrument 2017
- Biosecurity Amendment (Ballast Water and other measures) Act 2017
Other determinations
Australia’s new legal framework for agricultural exports commenced on Sunday 28 March 2021 at 3 am Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).
The Australian Government introduced the new export legislation as part of a wider initiative to strengthen Australia’s agricultural exports and market access. This initiative will:
- make the laws more relevant
- responsive and efficient
- provide the same level of regulatory oversight
- remove duplication
- ensure consistency across the commodities where possible.
This will allow for a streamlined approach to regulating different prescribed commodities and will ensure the framework is more accessible for exporters.
The new export legislation includes two components.
- The Export Control Act 2020 (the Act) sets out the overarching legal framework for the regulation of exported goods, including food and agricultural products, from Australian territory. It enables the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to make rules that detail the requirements and establish conditions relating to the export of certain goods.
- Export Control Act 2020
The Export Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2020 provides transitional provisions and makes consequential amendments to manage the transition to the new agricultural export legislation. - Export Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2020
- The Export Control Rules 2021 (the Rules) are legislative instruments made by the Secretary under section 432 of the Act. The Rules set out the operational requirements that must be adhered to for the export of specific goods from Australian territory, or from a part of Australian territory (e.g. meat).
- Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021
- Export Control (Eggs and Egg Products) Rules 2021
- Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021
- Export Control (Meat and Meat Products) Rules 2021
- Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021
- Export Control (Miscellaneous) Rules 2021
- Export Control (Organic Goods) Rules 2021
- Export Control (Plants and Plant Products) Rules 2021
- Export Control (Poultry Meat and Poultry Meat Products) Rules 2021
- Export Control (Rabbit and Ratite Meat and Rabbit and Ratite Meat Products) Rules 2021
- Export Control (Wild Game Meat and Wild Game Meat Products) Rules 2021
- Export Control (Wood and Woodchips) Rules 2021
- Cost Recovery Framework, which consists of 3 legislative instruments:
To read more about the new export legislation, visit: Improving agricultural export legislation.