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
  7. Holding orders for imported food

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
      • Previous years
    • Surveys and data

Holding orders for imported food

We apply and publish holding orders for imported food that:

  • has failed inspection or there are reasonable grounds for believing the food would fail
  • there are reasonable grounds for believing the food poses a serious risk to human health.

Holding orders are administrative instruments issued under the Imported Food Control Act 1992.

Holding orders ensure future consignments (same product, producer and country of origin) of a food are referred for inspection to verify compliance and safety.

Holding orders for failing food

We apply a holding order for imported food:

  • that has failed inspection. See failing food reports.
  • if there are reasonable grounds for believing the food would fail an inspection.

We ensure future consignments of this food are inspected under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS).

Holding orders apply until the basis for the holding order no longer applies or when there have been 5 consecutive passes demonstrating a history of compliance.

Monthly holding orders

This table shows holding orders we’ve applied each month, for the current year.

See orders for previous years.

Holding order numberProduct descriptionHolding order Instruments
19730Processed cerealPDF (165 KB), DOCX (88 KB)
19736Frozen taro piecesPDF (166 KB), DOCX (88 KB)
19743Jujube (red dates – Ziziphus jujuba)PDF (174 KB), DOCX (88 KB)
19748Frozen datesPDF (166 KB), DOCX (88 KB)
19755Fresh sugar snap peaPDF (167 KB), DOCX (88 KB)

Holding order numberProduct descriptionHolding order Instruments
19690Dragon fruit (white)PDF (166 KB), DOCX (83 KB)
19694Alcoholic mixed drinkPDF (167 KB), DOCX (85 KB)
19700Frozen raspberriesPDF (166 KB), DOCX (85 KB)
19702Sweet amla candyPDF (166 KB), DOCX (85 KB)
19709Cassava chipsPDF (166 KB), DOCX (85 KB)
19710Fresh sugar snap peaPDF (167 KB), DOCX (86 KB)
19723Beancurd sheetsPDF (167 KB), DOCX (85 KB)
19735IQF spinach choppedPDF (166 KB), DOCX (86 KB)

Holding order numberProduct descriptionHolding order Instruments
19579Frozen whole barramundiPDF (168 KB), DOCX (88 KB)
19638Bourn vita (cereal-based drink powder)PDF (167 KB), DOCX (91 KB)
19643Mung dall (Vigna radiata)PDF (167 KB), DOCX (87 KB)
19644Brown sultanaPDF (167 KB), DOCX (90 KB)
19647TaroPDF (166 KB), DOCX (90 KB)
19650FigsPDF (167 KB), DOCX (88 KB)
19651Caffeine pouches– various flavoursPDF (169 KB), DOCX (90 KB)
19652Squid snacksPDF (166 KB), DOCX (88 KB)
19654Fresh snow peas, Fresh sugar snap peaPDF (166 KB), DOCX (88 KB)
19659Sukkary datesPDF (166 KB), DOCX (91 KB)
19661Pears, Asian pearPDF (166 KB), DOCX (88 KB)
19663Ashwagandha powder (Withnia somnifera)PDF (166 KB), DOCX (91 KB)
19671Fresh dragon fruit (red)PDF (166 KB), DOCX (88 KB)

Revocations for failing food

We revoke holding orders on failing food when the circumstances specified for revocation have been met.

Monthly revocations

This table shows revocations we’ve applied each month, for the current year.

See orders for previous years.

DocumentFile size
Instruments revoking a holding order March 2025 PDF218 KB
Instruments revoking a holding order March 2025 DOCX89 KB

DocumentFile size
Instruments revoking a holding order February 2025 PDF244 KB
Instruments revoking a holding order February 2025 DOCX91 KB

DocumentFile size
Instruments revoking a holding order January 2025 PDF203 KB
Instruments revoking a holding order January 2025 DOCX86 KB

Holding orders for food that poses a serious risk to human health

We can apply holding orders to an imported food on the basis there are reasonable grounds for believing the food may pose a serious risk to human health. This holding order is active for 28 days and can be extended until we receive assurances from the exporting country that future imports are safe.

There are currently no active holding orders for food that poses a serious risk to human health.

Holding order numberProduct descriptionReasonable groundsDate applied (month and year)Holding order Instrument
21001Medjool datesAssociation with hepatitis A outbreakSeptember 2021PDF (166 KB), DOCX (59 KB)

Holding order numberProduct descriptionReasonable groundsDate applied (month and year)Holding order Instrument
19001Salted manila clamsAssociation with hepatitis A outbreakDecember 2020PDF (177 KB), DOCX (58 KB)

If you have difficulty accessing this file, visit web accessibility for assistance.

Revocations for food that poses a serious risk to human health

We revoke holding orders applied to food that poses a serious risk to human health when the circumstances specified for its revocation have occurred.

DocumentFile size
Instrument revoking a holding order September 2021 PDF188 KB
Instrument revoking a holding order September 2021 DOCX59 KB

If you have difficulty accessing this file, visit web accessibility for assistance.

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: 28 April 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.

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram