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Department of Agriculture

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  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Import
  4. Importing goods
  5. Food
  6. Inspecting and testing imported food
  7. Book a laboratory for food testing

Sidebar first - Import

  • Inspection and testing
    • Imported Food Inspection Scheme
    • Book a laboratory
    • Food sampling
    • Failing food reports
    • Reconsideration and review of decisions
    • Holding orders
    • Surveys and data

Book a laboratory for food testing

Imported food can be referred for testing under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme.

How it works

We issue you with an initial Food Control Certificate (FCC) that sets out what:

  • food needs testing
  • tests need to be performed.

If we refer your food for testing, you must nominate a laboratory to conduct the testing. You can only select from a list of approved laboratories.

You must pay for the costs of the laboratory testing. Some laboratories may require a deposit prior to testing.

How to book

  1. Check the required tests listed on your FCC.
  2. Select a laboratory that can perform most of the required tests from the list of appointed laboratories.
  3. Contact the laboratory to check if they:
    • can perform the tests required on your food sample.
    • can sub-contract one or more tests to another laboratory if you have multiple tests required on more than one food sample
    • service the area in which your food is located
    • will accept your nomination.
  4. Complete the Laboratory nomination form and send it to the laboratory. You may choose a laboratory for one consignment only or for all future consignments. See ongoing arrangements for more details.
  5. The laboratory has accepted the nomination when they return the form to us which notifies us they are performing the testing.
  6. Book an inspection with us.

Download the nomination form

Download

Imported food inspection scheme laboratory nomination form (PDF 241 KB)  

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

Ongoing arrangements

You can choose to set up an ongoing commercial arrangement. This way, the next time your food is referred for inspection and testing it can go straight to the laboratory.

Discuss this arrangement with the laboratory when completing your IFIS laboratory nomination form.

Samples subject to biosecurity control

Some samples are subject to biosecurity control (for example, uncooked pig meat). The laboratory must be an appropriate (Class 5.11) approved arrangement (AA) site to test these samples.

Check for Class 5.11 laboratory sites operating under an AA.

Appointed laboratories

Agrifood Technology Services: Australia wide
Offices:
  • Melbourne
  • Perth
  • Brisbane
Phone: (03) 9742 0555
Email: lab.vic@agrifood.com.au
  • Bacillus cereus
  • Cronobacter
  • Escherichia coli
  • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Salmonella
  • Vibrio cholerae
  • Aflatoxin
  • Allergen testing – Beta-lactoglobulin
  • Allergen testing – Casein
  • Allergen testing – Total milk proteins
  • Arsenic - inorganic
  • Arsenic - total
  • Cannabidiol
  • Total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Domoic acid
  • Fruit and vegetable residue screen
  • Histamine
  • Honey screen – adulteration with C4 sugars
  • Honey screen – moisture content
  • Honey screen – reducing sugars
  • Hydrocyanic acid
  • Iodine
  • Lead
  • Paralytic shellfish poison
ALS Food & Pharmaceutical Services:
  • New South Wales
  • Victoria
Offices:
  • Sydney, phone (02) 8832 7500
  • Melbourne phone (03) 8756 8111
Email: FoodAustralia@ALSGlobal.com
  • Bacillus cereus
  • Cronobacter
  • Escherichia coli
  • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Salmonella
  • Vibrio cholerae
  • Aflatoxin
  • Allergen testing – Beta-lactoglobulin
  • Allergen testing – Casein
  • Allergen testing – Total milk proteins
  • Arsenic – inorganic
  • Arsenic – total
  • Cannabidiol
  • Total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
  • Carbon monoxide
  •  Ceftiofur
  • Domoic acid
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Fruit and vegetable residue screen
  • Histamine
  • Honey screen – adulteration with C4 sugars
  • Honey screen – moisture content
  • Honey screen – reducing sugars
  • Hydrocyanic acid
  • Iodine
  • Lead
  • Malachite green
  • Nitrofurans
  • Paralytic shellfish poison
  • Quinolones
  • Virginiamycin
BVAQ Pty Ltd (formerly known as DTS Food Assurance) Services:
  • Victoria
  • New South Wales
  • Queensland
  • Western Australia
Offices:
  • Melbourne
  • Sydney
  • Brisbane
Phone: (03) 8371 7610
Email: clientservices@bvaq.com
  • Bacillus cereus
  • Cronobacter
  • Escherichia coli
  • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Salmonella
  • Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli
  • Vibrio cholerae
  • Aflatoxin
  • Allergen testing – Beta-lactoglobulin
  • Allergen testing – Casein
  • Allergen testing – Total milk proteins
  • Arsenic – inorganic
  • Arsenic –- total
  • Cannabidiol
  • Total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Ceftiofur
  • Domoic acid
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Fruit and vegetable residue screen
  • Histamine
  • Honey screen – adulteration with C4 sugars
  • Honey screen – moisture content
  • Honey screen – reducing sugars
  • Hydrocyanic acid
  • Inorganic arsenic
  • Iodine
  • Lead
  • Malachite green
  • Nitrofurans
  • Paralytic shellfish poison
  • Quinolones
  • Virginiamycin
National Measurement Institute Services: Australia wide
Offices:
  • Melbourne
  • Sydney
Phone: (03) 9644 4888
Email: food@measurement.gov.au
  • Bacillus cereus
  • Cronobacter
  • Escherichia coli
  • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Salmonella
  • Vibrio cholerae
  • Aflatoxin
  • Allergen testing – Beta-lactoglobulin
  • Allergen testing – Casein
  • Allergen testing – Total milk proteins
  • Arsenic –- inorganic
  • Arsenic – total
  • Cannabidiol
  • Total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Ceftiofur
  • Domoic acid
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Fruit and vegetable residue screen
  • Histamine
  • Honey screen – adulteration with C4 sugars
  • Honey screen – moisture content
  • Honey screen – reducing sugars
  • Hydrocyanic acid
  • Iodine
  • Lead
  • Malachite green
  • Nitrofurans
  • Paralytic shellfish poison
  • Quinolones
  • Virginiamycin
SA Analytical Services Services: South Australia
Offices: Adelaide
Phone: 1300 386 811
Email: lab@saals.com.au
  • Bacillus cereus
  • Cronobacter
  • Escherichia coli
  • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Salmonella
  • Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli
  • Vibrio cholerae
  • Aflatoxin
  • Allergen testing – Beta-lactoglobulin
  • Allergen testing – Casein
  • Allergen testing – Total milk proteins
  • Arsenic – inorganic
  • Arsenic – total
  • Cannabidiol
  • Total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Ceftiofur
  • Domoic acid
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Fruit and vegetable residue screen
  • Histamine
  • Honey screen – adulteration with C4 sugars
  • Honey screen – moisture content
  • Honey screen – reducing sugars
  • Hydrocyanic acid
  • Iodine
  • Lead
  • Malachite green
  • Nitrofurans
  • Paralytic shellfish poison
  • Quinolones
  • Virginiamycin
Merieux NutriSciences trading as Silliker Australia Services:
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • New South Wales
  • Northern Territory
  • Queensland
  • Tasmania
  • Victoria
  • Western Australia
Offices:
  • Melbourne
  • Perth
  • Sydney
  • Brisbane
Phone: (03) 8878 2100
Email: csrsupport.au@mxns.com
  • Bacillus cereus
  • Cronobacter
  • Escherichia coli
  • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Salmonella
  • Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli
  • Vibrio cholerae
  • Aflatoxin
  • Allergen testing – Beta-lactoglobulin
  • Allergen testing – Casein
  • Allergen testing – Total milk proteins
  • Arsenic - inorganic
  • Arsenic - total
  • Cannabidiol
  • Total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Ceftiofur
  • Domoic acid
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Histamine
  • Honey screen – adulteration with C4 sugars
  • Honey screen – moisture content
  • Honey screen – reducing sugars
  • Fruit and vegetable residue screen
  • Hydrocyanic acid
  • Iodine
  • Lead
  • Malachite green
  • Nitrofurans
  • Paralytic shellfish poison
  • Quinolones
  • Virginiamycin
Symbio Laboratories Services: Australia wide
Offices:
  • Brisbane
  • Melbourne
  • Sydney
  • Perth
Phone: 1300 703 166
Email: admin@symbiolabs.com.au
  • Bacillus cereus
  • Escherichia coli
  • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Salmonella
  • Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli
  • Vibrio cholerae
  • Aflatoxin
  • Allergen testing – Beta-lactoglobulin
  • Allergen testing – Casein
  • Allergen testing – Total milk proteins
  • Arsenic – inorganic
  • Arsenic – total
  • Cannabidiol
  • Total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Ceftiofur
  • Domoic acid
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Fruit and vegetable residue screen
  • Histamine
  • Honey screen – adulteration with C4 sugars
  • Honey screen – moisture content
  • Honey screen – reducing sugars
  • Hydrocyanic acid
  • Iodine
  • Lead
  • Malachite green
  • Nitrofurans
  • Paralytic shellfish poison
  • Quinolones
  • Virginiamycin

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

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Last updated: 23 May 2023

© 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.