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Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Import
  4. Importing goods
  5. Food
  6. How to import food

Sidebar first - Import

  • Food
    • How to import food
      • Food Import Compliance Agreements
        • FICA audits
    • Import requirements by food type
      • Importing food from New Zealand
      • Pure and highly concentrated caffeine products
      • Cereal grains and cereal products
      • Coconut and coconut meat
      • Coconut milk drinks
      • Cheese
      • Dried milk
      • Raw milk cheese
      • Fruits and vegetables
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      • Beef and beef products
      • Processed meat - cooked
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      • Bivalve molluscs
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      • Histamine susceptible fish
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    • Documents and declarations
      • Full Import Declarations
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      • Conditions for appointment as an analyst
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How to import food into Australia

We regulate food imports into Australia to:

  • protect our environment from biosecurity risks
  • protect consumers from food safety risks.

Follow these steps to make sure you import food that meets these conditions.

Check our Biosecurity Imports Conditions (BICON) system

Before importing food, check if:

  • you can import the food into Australia
  • the food needs to meet any biosecurity import conditions (treatments or import permits).

Check the import conditions in BICON.

Import restrictions apply to foods such as:

  • eggs and egg products
  • dairy products
  • meat and meat products
  • seeds and nuts
  • fresh fruit and vegetables.

Source safe and compliant food

Food imports must be safe and meet the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

To source safe and compliant food, seek assurances from your supplier that the food:

  • has been produced under a food safety system that effectively identifies and controls foodborne hazards of concern
  • only contains ingredients or additives allowed in Australia
  • is not fortified with vitamins and minerals, unless permitted
  • only contains permitted agricultural and veterinary residues within allowable limits
  • meets compositional requirements
  • is correctly labelled, including declaration of mandatory allergens. Unless you are labelling the food after it arrives in Australia before you distribute it for sale.

You can verify safety and compliance by asking your supplier for:

  • evidence of food safety certification
  • results of product testing
  • ingredient information documents
  • product specification sheets and sample labels.

Lodging declarations and documents

You must lodge details of your imported food in a Full Import Declaration.

Check to see if your imported food needs a:

  • mandatory foreign government certificate
  • food safety management certificate
  • IFIS importer declaration.

Inspection and testing

We inspect and test imported food under our Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS) to check that it meets our requirements.

See what tests apply to your food imports.

We will check your food meets:

  • Australia’s standards in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code
  • country of origin food labelling requirements (business.gov.au).

Inspection and testing fees

Inspections are cost recovered. See our charging guidelines.

Food importers must pay the appointed analyst for any laboratory testing.

Food Import Compliance Agreement (FICA)

Food importers can enter into a FICA with us if they have a documented food safety management system. This is instead of having your food inspected and tested under the IFIS.

We regulate FICAs under an audit arrangement with you where we assess and recognise your food safety management system.

Find out more about FICAs.

Keep records

You must keep records showing where your food imports are from.

Keep a record of:

  • contact details of your suppliers or customers
  • descriptions of the food and batch or lot identification
  • transaction dates
  • how much food you’ve received or will be supplied.

See other information that must be contained in records.

Stay informed

Check our Imported Food Notices for updates on imported food requirements.

Subscribe to be notified of new releases.

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

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Last updated: 01 February 2022

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.