Importing into Australia
The importation of some products is, by law, subject to biosecurity import conditions. Some products are not permitted entry while other products are only allowed into Australia subject to meeting import conditions that mitigate the biosecurity risk. This may include a requirement for a biosecurity import permit.
To protect the health of Australians the department also regulates imported food intended for sale.
Food products that meet biosecurity import conditions must also comply with Australia’s food standards and food safety requirements. The department checks and monitors the compliance of imported food by referring imports to the Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS), a risk- based border inspection scheme.
Use the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) to determine whether a commodity intended for import into Australia:
- is permitted
- is subject to biosecurity import conditions
- requires supporting documentation
- requires treatment
- needs a biosecurity import permit
In addition, if you are importing food, use BICON to determine:
- whether the food intended for import is permitted
- the supporting documentation required
- the analytical tests that may apply to the food and the permitted limits
- how to book a laboratory to test the food
- the obligations at an imported food inspection
It is your responsibility to comply with the department’s biosecurity import conditions and verify that food you import for sale is safe and compliant with Australian food standards.
Biosecurity import permits
BICON will identify whether your goods require a biosecurity import permit to meet biosecurity import conditions. You can apply, track and manage your BICON import permits online using your BICON registered user account.
Most import permits will be issued within 20 business days for standard (category 1) applications and within 40 business days for non-standard (category 2 to 5) applications after receiving payment and a completed application. The application category is based on the complexity of the assessment.
Import permits will have different validity periods depending on the goods and the biosecurity risk posed by the goods. Applications may take longer if:
- they require technical assessment
- incomplete or incorrect information is provided by the applicant
- additional information is required to continue the assessment (applicants will be notified of this by the assessing officers)
- it is a novel product or has been prepared in a novel manner.
The department no longer facilitates the clearance of conditionally non-prohibited goods that arrive without the required import permit. Therefore, goods that require a permit, but arrive without one, including where an application is currently under consideration, will be directed for export from Australian territory or required to be destroyed in an approved manner.
Access BICON
Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON)
Importing into Australian External Territories
Biosecurity import conditions for imports into the Australian external territories of Norfolk Island, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands may not be contained in BICON. For information about all imports into these Australian external Territories, please visit the External Territories webpage.
Contact us
To help you comply with your biosecurity obligations and food safety requirements, the department has established a teams to answer your questions about biosecurity import conditions and permits, or about food safety requirements.
For biosecurity import condition queries:
- Phone: 1800 900 090 or + 61 3 8318 6700 (from outside Australia)
- Email: imports@aff.gov.au
- using the Contact Us function within BICON.
For imported food safety queries:
- email: foodimp@aff.gov.au for queries about imported food safety requirements
- using the 'Contact Us' function within BICON.