About the SAC declaration
To import goods into Australia, you must lodge a SAC declaration if the goods:
- are valued at AUD $1000 or less
- arrive by air or sea
A SAC declaration is NOT required for goods that:
- arrive by international mail
- are traveller baggage
- arrive as unaccompanied personal effects
- are imported under a carnet.
Different types of declarations are required for these goods.
How to lodge a SAC declaration
The importer or party acting on the importer’s behalf must lodge the SAC declaration in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS). The Department of Home Affairs manages the ICS.
See details on how to do this:
Biosecurity assessment
We will use the information in your SAC declaration to assess your goods for biosecurity risks. If we don’t identify any potential biosecurity risks the consignment can progress to the importer.
How to lodge additional documents
If we need more information to make an assessment, we will ask you for additional documents.
Use our Document Lodgement Service (DLS)
The DLS allows you to securely and efficiently submit documents and check the statuses of existing documents for the clearance of SAC consignments. The DLS has both an Application Programming Interface (API) and a User Interface (UI) solution. DLS replaces the SAC paperless and SAC non-paperless process.
DLS Application Programming Interface (API)
The DLS API is a system‑to‑system interface that allows clients to securely submit documents directly into DAFF systems. It improves efficiency, security and traceability by automating document submission, enabling faster processing and providing status tracking for lodged documents.
You can access the DLS application programming interface (API) via the Agriculture Developer Portal.
To start the integration process, contact CargoSystems@aff.gov.au.
DLS Online Form
The DLS online form is a web-based interface that allows clients to upload and manage SAC documents through a secure online portal, without needing system integration. It enables users to lodge documents, provide required details, and check the status of submissions using consignment information. It replaces the email-based document lodgement processes.
You can access the DLS Online Form on TradeClear. You will be required to enter a consignment combination key to identify and lodge documents.
SAC paperless process
The SAC paperless process is an email-based system for submitting additional information about your SAC goods.
If you already use the SAC paperless process, we encourage you to transition to DLS for document lodgement. The SAC paperless process will be decommissioned by 31 January 2027 and replaced by DLS.
For more on the SAC paperless process, contact aircargopolicy@aff.gov.au.
SAC non-paperless process
Email lodgements will no longer be accepted from 31 January 2027. Please lodge your supporting documents via the TradeClear portal.
For questions about the portal, please contact TradeClearSupport@aff.gov.au.
For questions about the SAC non-paperless process, please contact SACNCCsupervisors@aff.gov.au.
For other queries, please contact aircargopolicy@aff.gov.au
Biosecurity interventions
We will refer your consignment for inspection if we identify potential biosecurity risks.
If biosecurity risks are found, biosecurity measures may be required to prevent the spread of pests and disease. These include treatment, export or destruction of cargo.
We also undertake biosecurity assurance activities. These include random inspection of SAC consignments to check compliance with biosecurity import requirements.
For more information about inspection processes, see clearance and inspection of goods.
Learn more about how to import goods to Australia
SAC premises status reports
Operators of SAC reporter premises, such as international courier companies, can obtain a status report for each consignment they manage.
You can have regular reports issued automatically, or you can request an ad hoc report.
If you use the SAC non-paperless process, you must specify your:
- preferred time of day to receive the report
- email address the report should be sent to
- ICS establishment number.
Send your request to BIIS-IMS@aff.gov.au.
If the SAC reporter is different from the establishment holding the consignment, an automatic report generation may not occur.
How to request a commodity review
You can request that we review our biosecurity intervention for your commodity.
Email your request to aircargopolicy@aff.gov.au.
We will acknowledge your request within 10 working days. See our client service standards.
Cost recovery charge
The cost recovery charge for biosecurity clearance of SAC cargo began on 1 October 2024.
For more information see SAC cost recovery or email SACCostRecovery@aff.gov.au.