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. Import
  4. Importing goods
  5. Food
  6. Inspecting and testing imported food

Sidebar first - Import

  • Food
    • How to import food
      • Food Import Compliance Agreements
        • FICA audits
    • Inclusion of food safety requirements in BICON
    • Import requirements by food type
      • Importing food from New Zealand
      • Arachnids
      • Beef and beef products
      • Beef and beef products - raw
      • Berries
      • Bivalve molluscs
      • Caffeine products - pure and highly concentrated
      • Cassava chips
      • Cereal grains and cereal products
      • Cheese
      • Cheese - raw milk
      • Coconut and coconut meat
      • Coconut milk drinks
      • Crustaceans
      • Crustaceans - cooked
      • Finfish - processed
      • Fish - fresh, chilled, frozen - aquaculture
      • Fish - histamine susceptible
      • Fruit
      • Fungi - prohibited
      • Ham - uncooked slow dry cured
      • Hemp seeds and oil
      • Herbs - dried
      • Honey
      • Human milk and human milk products
      • Infant formula - powdered
      • Insects
      • Kava
      • Meat - processed and cooked
      • Meat - processed and uncooked
      • Meat and edible offal
      • Milk - dried
      • Novel food (non-traditional food)
      • Mini jelly cups containing konjac
      • Oil - Edible plant oil
      • Paprika
      • Peanuts
      • Pepper - dried
      • Pistachios
      • Plants - prohibited
      • Pomegranate arils
      • Poultry meat - cooked
      • Poultry meat and offal products
      • Poultry pate, paste and liver
      • Seaweed - brown
      • Sesame seeds and sesame seed products
      • Soy bean curd
      • Soy milk curd
      • Sports food - formulated supplementary
      • Tofu
      • Vegetables
      • All other food and beverages
    • Documents and declarations
      • Full Import Declarations
      • Declaring the producer of imported food
      • IFIS importer declarations
    • Inspection and testing
      • Imported Food Inspection Scheme
      • Book a laboratory
      • Food sampling
      • Failing food reports
      • Reconsideration and review of decisions
      • Holding orders
        • Previous years
      • Surveys and data
    • Appointed analysts
      • Testing imported food samples
      • Conditions for appointment as an analyst
    • Certification
      • Mandatory foreign government certification
      • Voluntary foreign government certification
      • Food safety management certificates
    • Notices
    • Legislation

Inspecting and testing imported food

All food imported into Australia must comply with Australian food standards and requirements for safety. This includes compliance with:

  • the Australia and New Zealand Food Standards Code
  • country of origin food labelling requirements.

We monitor imported food to check it meets these requirements through a risk-based inspection scheme called the Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS).

The Department of Home Affairs’ Integrated Cargo System (ICS) refers shipments of imported food to us for inspection and testing.

Notification of inspection

We issue a Food Control Certificate (FCC) to let you know your imported food needs to be inspected and if any tests apply. The food to be inspected must remain on hold. You cannot distribute it.

Food Control Certificate

We use FCCs to communicate directions to importers.

The initial FCC sets out:

  • which lines of the import entry will be inspected and must be held
  • the location the goods are to be held for inspection; this is the importer’s premises unless the importer requests the location be changed
  • which lines of the import entry will not be inspected
  • directions for booking an inspection
  • what tests are required
  • if any food in the consignment is subject to a holding order
  • any additional directions.

We may issue additional FCCs to advise:

  • if we need further information
  • when your laboratory nomination has been accepted.

Where the consignment has CONDCLEAR status in ICS, the goods can be released to the importer's control while awaiting the FCC.

Nominate a laboratory

If your food needs to be tested, the FCC will instruct you to nominate a laboratory. The laboratory must be an appointed analyst under the IFIS.

You can book an inspection once a laboratory advises you that they have accepted your nomination.

See how to book a laboratory for food testing.

Book an inspection

If your food has been referred for inspection, you will need to book an inspection with us.

If your food has also been referred for testing, you will need to nominate a laboratory before you book an inspection.

Complete and submit the Request for Inspection Form to book your inspection.

Virtual inspections

We can now virtually inspect eligible imported food that has been referred for label and visual inspection.

A virtual inspection is conducted in real time using Microsoft Teams.

Only food classified as surveillance food is eligible for a virtual label and visual inspection. The following surveillance foods are not eligible:

  • formulated supplementary sport foods
  • food subject to a holding order
  • food subject to analytical testing.

Risk foods are not eligible for label and visual inspections except for permitted kava products.

Virtual engagement with the imported food industry has increased steadily since its introduction, with over 2000 virtual inspections conducted in 2023.

Watch the video below to find out more:

The department is now offering virtual label and visual inspections of eligible surveillance food under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS) as a permanent option for importers. During a virtual inspection, an authorised officer from the department connects with an importer online using Microsoft Teams to conduct the inspection remotely. These inspections reduce delays, allowing for continuity of supply for food importers.

Virtual engagement with the imported food industry has increased steadily since its introduction, with over 500 virtual inspections conducted over the first 12 months.

The Top 5 Food Types regularly assessed and cleared via virtual inspection include: 

  • Alcohol for retail sale
  • Bulk food ingredients such as juice concentrates for further processing
  • Noodles and Pasta
  • Confectionary
  • Tea and coffee

To participate in a virtual inspection, importers or an authorised representative must express interest and conduct connectivity with the department prior to booking a virtual inspection.

Importers or an authorised representative must have suitable IT equipment and internet access at the inspection location including access to Microsoft Teams to connect with the department.

The importer or representative undertaking the virtual inspection will be required to follow directions of the authorised officer, including selecting samples for inspection as directed by the authorised officer and holding each to the camera for inspection.

This initiative offers many benefits to industry, including:

  • Reduced inspection delays
  • Provides an alternative inspection method for suitable food
  • Lower inspection charges compared to physical inspections

To participate, importers should email the department via the email address shown on the screen. The department will then:

  • send you the eligibility checklist for virtual inspections to complete
  • provide you with the Imported Food virtual inspection guidelines

You can also refer to our imported food label and visual virtual inspections fact sheet.

To register your business, email Importedfood-postinspection@aff.gov.au

Download

Imported food label and visual virtual inspections (PDF 448 KB)
Imported food label and visual virtual inspections (DOCX 144 KB)

Example Food Control Certificate (PDF 40 KB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, please contact foodimp@aff.gov.au for assistance.

Imported food inspection

Make sure the food to be inspected is visible and easy to access and the required documentation is ready for the authorised officer.

At inspection, we visually assess your food and check the label to make sure it complies with Australian requirements. If testing is required, we will take samples of your food.

See how we do food sampling.

If you are not prepared for the inspection or you don’t follow our instructions, we may cancel your inspection but still charge you for it. If this occurs, you will need to re-book an inspection.

Imported Food Inspection Report

We issue an electronic Imported Food Inspection Report (eIFIR) at the end of your inspection. The eIFIR sets out:

  • how many samples we took for testing
  • if you can release the food or not.

The eIFIR is also sent to your nominated laboratory to let them know your samples are ready to be collected from us.

Imported Food Inspection Advice

If your inspection is only a label and visual assessment, you will be issued with an Imported Food Inspection Advice (IFIA) at the end of inspection or shortly after.

If samples have been taken for testing, the IFIA will be sent to you once testing results are known.

The IFIA will tell you if your food has:

  • passed assessment and can be released
  • failed inspection.

If your food fails inspection

If your food fails inspection, the IFIA will tell you the reasons it has failed. The food cannot be released.

The IFIA will tell you:

  • what to do with the food, either
    • relabel
    • dispose of or re-export your food under the supervision of an authorised offer
  • how to book another inspection, and when this needs to occur.

Fees

See our charging guidelines for the standard charges for imported food inspections.

Your nominated laboratory sets their charges for testing. They will invoice you directly.

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip
Page last updated: 17 December 2024

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