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. Lodging declarations and documentation for imported food
  7. Declare the producer of imported food

Sidebar first - Import

  • Documents and declarations
    • Full Import Declarations
    • Declaring the producer of imported food
    • IFIS importer declarations

Declare the producer of imported food

You must declare the producer when you lodge a Full Import Declaration (FID).

We inspect and test food imports under our Imported Food Inspection Scheme.

Work out who the producer is

The producer is the name of the manufacturer, processor, packer or establishment where the goods were grown, caught, manufactured or processed.

The producer is generally where the product undergoes final processing or packaging. The producer’s contact name and address will be on the final bulk or retail packaging.

The producer may be the same as the exporter or supplier. It can’t be the warehouse or freight forwarder.

If your overseas supplier doesn’t provide producer details, you can declare the supplier as the producer in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS).

[expand all]

Raw or unprocessed food

The producer is the name of the business where the goods are packed into the final bulk or retail packaging.

Example

Raw seafood is packed into the final bulk or retail packaging at Business A. The name and contact details for Business A should be declared as the producer. The name and contact details for Business A may appear on the final bulk or retail packaging.

Processed food

The producer is the business where the goods were both:

  • processed into the finished product
  • packed into the final bulk or retail packaging.

Example

You source ingredients from one or more sources. You send ingredients to Business A for processing into finished products. Declare Business A as the producer. The name and contact details for Business A may appear on the final bulk or retail packaging.

Gift hampers

Gift hampers can contain multiple foods from multiple producers. The producer is the name of the business where the goods are packed into the final bulk or retail packaging.

Add, amend or delete a producer code

Declare your producer in your FID using the Department of Home Affairs' Integrated Cargo System (ICS).

Before you create a new producer, check they aren’t already in the system. Search for a producer using the Wildcard and Like Match in ICS.

To do this you can either enter:

  • the first word of the producer name and use a * at the end of the word
  • part of the producer name and click the Like Match tick box.

Add a new producer

Licensed customs brokers can add producer codes in ICS. You need to be granted access in the ICS to be able to create producers. To request this access, email ifpproducers@aff.gov.au and include your name, brokerage name and ABN in the email request.

Anyone else must complete the Application to add, amend or delete a producer in the Integrated Cargo System.

When adding a new producer into the ICS, you must first search to make sure that the producer doesn’t already exist. Once you have searched and no producer is found, a Create button will appear.

When creating a new producer you must include the name, locality and country code.

  • Name (up to 250 characters) — include the full name of the producer. Use abbreviations such as Pty Ltd or P/L for Proprietary Limited.
  • Locality (up to 40 characters) — include the physical address (for example, 20 Export Park, San Jose, California) instead of a broad locality (California). Use abbreviations such as ‘St’ for Street or ‘Bldg’ for Building. Don’t include a Post Office box.
  • Country Code — include the country where the producer is based. Search to select the correct country code.

Download

Document Pages File size
Application to add a new producer to the ICS PDF PDF Icon 4 308 KB

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

Amend an existing producer

We make amendments to producers in the ICS.

Complete the Application to add, amend or delete a producer in the Integrated Cargo System.

Download

Document Pages File size
Application to add a new producer to the ICS PDF PDF Icon 4 308 KB

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

You can still select the producer in a FID right after you submit the form. We will process the amendment as soon as possible.

Delete an existing producer

Complete the Application to add, amend or delete a producer in the Integrated Cargo System.

Download

Document Pages File size
Application to add a new producer to the ICS PDF PDF Icon 4 308 KB

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

We will process this form to remove the producer from ICS.

Generic producer codes

There are generic producer codes available for food within tariff chapters 2–22 that:

  • may be exempt from inspection and testing, or
  • are returning Australian goods.

This food may still be referred to us. Provide us with evidence (e.g. a declaration) of the end use, and we will consider whether to release the goods without inspecting or testing them.

Use the generic producer code for your type of goods.

Food exempt from inspection and testing

Certain food is exempt from inspection and testing. You still need to include a generic producer code in ICS.

See Section 7 of the Imported Food Control Act 1992 for definitions.

Type of imported good Generic producer code Generic producer name
Food imported for ship’s stores only 00224506 Ship's stores only
Food imported for aircraft’s stores only 0004997P Aircraft's stores only
Food imported for private consumption only 0005531X Private consumption
Food imported for a trade sample only 0007593X Trade sample <20KG/20L not for consumption
Food imported for an end use other than human consumption 00213492 Not for human consumption

Returned Australian goods

Food that has been produced in Australia, exported overseas and then returned to Australia.

Type of imported good Generic producer code Generic producer name
Food exported from Australia that is being returned 0004957T Returned Australian goods only

Declaring the incorrect producer

If you declare an incorrect producer, it could hold up your goods.

A FID with the wrong producer may be incorrectly referred to us. We will need to assess the goods before we can release them. For risk food, our import system won’t apply the correct rate of inspection. Your imported goods may be inspected and tested unnecessarily.

Producer on the label is different to the producer in a FID

Our inspection officers will check that the producer on the label matches the FID. If they don’t match, the officer will take these actions:

  • For risk food—stop the inspection and advise the importer or agent that the producer must be changed in the FID. The FID must be amended before we reinspect the goods.
  • For holding order food—conduct a visual and label inspection. They will advise the importer or agent that the producer needs to be declared correctly in future FIDs.
  • For surveillance food—complete the inspection and advise the importer or agent that the producer needs to be declared correctly in future FIDs.

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: 11 May 2021

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