Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Drought, disaster and rural support
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Levies and charges on agricultural products
    • Mouse infestation advice
    • Plant health
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Report a concern
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2025-26

    Budget 2025-26

    The 2025–26 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 25 March 2025.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Export
  4. Controlled export goods
  5. Dairy products
  6. Dairy exporter welcome pack
  7. Do I need export registration?

Sidebar first - Export

  • Dairy products
    • Step-by-step guide
    • Information directory for dairy manufacturers and exporters
    • Export facilitator service
    • Dairy exporters
      • Dairy exporter welcome pack
        • Your dairy export journey
          • Your approved arrangement
          • Importing country requirements
        • Do I need export registration?
          • How to apply to become export registered
        • Forms and templates
        • Resources for dairy exporters
        • Frequently asked questions
      • Dairy product codes
      • Export quotas
    • Export registered establishments
      • Approved arrangements
        • Approved arrangement checklist
      • Audits
      • Exporting dairy products to China
      • Microbiological testing
      • Raw milk temperatures
      • List of dairy establishments
      • Declarations of compliance
      • Transferring goods between establishments
      • EU requirements for dairy products
      • Water testing requirements
    • Forms
    • Industry notices
      • All dairy notices and advices
    • Resources
      • Heat treatment equipment and processes
      • Milk residue survey
    • Dairy Export Industry Consultative Committee
    • Returning products to Australia
    • Recall of exported food
    • Reconsideration and review of decisions

Do I need export registration?

Find out if you need to register your establishment for export.

Export requirements vary depending on the products you manufacture. Your establishment will need to be export registered if you are manufacturing dairy products that are prescribed goods.

A dairy product is defined as a prescribed good if it meets these 3 conditions:

  • dairy as the major ingredient
  • manufactured in Australia
  • intended for human consumption

Products include:

  • butter
  • cheese
  • cream, dairy based dips
  • milk, milk powder and milk powder blends
  • yoghurt.

See our list of dairy product codes.

Dairy Non-prescribed goods can include:

  • products obtained from a cow for animal consumption
  • products obtained from a cow for human consumption where dairy is
    • not the major ingredient (by weight or volume), or
    • the major ingredient, but it is not like a prescribed dairy product, for example ice-cream, cheesecake, colostrum
  • from an animal other than a cow, including sheep, goat, buffalo, camel
  • any dairy product destined for New Zealand.

There may be some exceptions. Some overseas countries require establishments to be export registered, even for what we consider non-prescribed goods. You must always check Micor.

To export non-prescribed goods, please click here for more information.

See more

See more about prescribed and non-prescribed dairy products.

Watch

How do you know if you need to be export registered?

This decision tree will help you understand the process of export registration.

Your product’s definition will determine if you are required to apply for export registration.

In most cases, if your product is to be exported to New Zealand, you are not required to be export registered, however, if you wish to export to other countries, you will need to be registered for export.

If your products are meant for human consumption and the main ingredient is dairy, sourced from cow’s milk, you will need to register to export your products.

For further guidance, you can complete the questionnaire to help you determine if you need to be registered for export.

The questionnaire will also help you to determine what is needed if your products are not for human consumption, non-dairy, and/or not sourced from cow’s milk.

Contact us

If you have questions that are not answered here, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us and we’ll be in touch.

Find out what you need

Use this questionnaire to find out if your establishment requires export registration.

Is your product destined for New Zealand?
Is your product made in Australia and meant for human consumption?
Is dairy the major component in your product?
Is your product from an animal other than a cow such as sheep, goat buffalo, camel etc?
Is your product similar to ice-cream, cheesecake, custard, colostrum etc?
Is your product liquid milk or milk products; powdered milk or milk protein products; butter and other milk fat products, etc.?

You do not need export registration as its considered a non-prescribed good. Find out more on how to export non-prescribed goods.

Please note: there may be some exceptions. Some overseas countries require establishments to be export registered, even for what we consider non-prescribed goods. You must always check Micor.

Your establishment needs to be registered for export. Find out how to register for export.

 

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Page last updated: 23 January 2025

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram