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Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Import
  4. Before you import goods
  5. Preparing for import

Sidebar first - Import

  • Before you import goods
    • Seasonal measures for Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB)
      • Guidance factsheets for conducting BMSB treatments
      • Preparing to import BMSB goods
      • BMSB Import scenarios FAQs
      • Safeguarding arrangements
      • Management of LCL/FAK containers
      • What happens to your goods on arrival
      • Management of vessels
    • How to import goods
      • Working with the import cargo and shipping industry
    • Preparing for import
      • Treating cargo outside Australia
        • Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme
        • AusTreat
        • Ethylene Oxide Offshore Treatment Providers Scheme
          • Pre-Shipment Treatment Import Certificate
        • Offshore Irradiation Treatment Providers Scheme
        • Pre-Border Biosecurity Treatment Providers
      • Sea container hygiene system
      • Specifications for sea freight container inspection stands
      • Cargo containers: biosecurity aspects and procedures
    • Sending your goods
      • Airports
        • First Points of Entry – information for arriving aircraft and goods
        • First points of entry - airport operator requirements
      • Seaports
    • Returning Australian products
    • Self assessed clearance cargo: how we work with industry
    • Temporary imports and events
    • Exhibitions, sporting, cultural and other events

Preparing for import

​Before your goods leave the country of origin, they should be packaged and treated to meet the import requirements set by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

To make sure your goods are cleared with minimal delay, follow these steps:

Use a clean container

  • Check biosecurity risk areas on your container to ensure the container is free of contamination inside and outside, including soil, grain, snails, insects or plant and animal material.
  • A cleanliness declaration is required for all containers imported into Australia.
  • All contaminated containers and goods entering Australia will be treated. Delays will occur and charges apply.
  • You may be eligible to join the sea container hygiene system.
  • Watch our sea container cleanliness video for tips on keeping your container clean.

Provide a packing declaration

  • Provide an accurate and detailed packing declaration.
  • The packing declaration should provide details of container cleanliness and whether straw and timber have been used as packing materials.
  • Failure to provide this information will result in the container and goods being inspected at an Approved Arrangement site. Delays will occur and charges apply.

Timber packing to be treated and bark free

  • All timber packaging in the container must be treated in an approved method.
  • The timber must be free of bark.
  • If timber dunnage has been used in the loading of the goods, it must be accompanied by a valid treatment certificate.
  • Failure to meet these requirements will result in the container being sent for treatment. Delays will occur and charges apply.

Treatments can be performed offshore

  • Treatments to meet Australian requirements can, in some circumstances, be performed offshore.
  • An approved offshore treatment provider must perform the treatment.
  • You can find out if your goods require treatment before entering Australia through the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).

Choose packing materials carefully

  • Use packing materials such as synthetic foam, plastics, metal frames, inflated dunnage, wood, wool, shredded paper, and other similar materials.
  • Do not use straw as it is prohibited, or fruit, vegetable, meat or egg cartons, or second-hand bags or sacks. These types of packing materials will be removed and destroyed. Delays will occur and charges apply.

More information

Requirements for containerised and non-containerised (for example break bulk and air freight) cargo can be found in the department’s Non-commodity information requirements policy.

For further information on packing and preparing goods, you can read the department’s guide to the importing process.

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

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Page last updated: 04 March 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.

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