Customs brokers and importers must complete FIDs for imported food. FIDs are lodged through the Department of Home Affairs' Integrated Cargo System (ICS).
We use this information when inspecting and testing food imports. This is part of our Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS).
How it works
A FID includes details we use to refer food imports to inspect and test.
We make sure the correct rates of inspection or analysis are applied using:
- information lodged in a FID
- supporting commercial documentation
- any government-to-government certification.
Incorrect information
If we find incorrect information in a FID, we direct you to amend the FID. Until you fix it, the goods will remain on hold and the FID will not be processed. You also won’t be able to book an inspection.
We will consider you as not complying if you:
- purposely lodge incorrect information
- answer lodgement questions incorrectly.
If we find you doing this, we will record your details and may take further action.
Producer of imported food
When you lodge a FID for imported food, you need to provide the name of the producer.
Find out more about declaring the producer of imported food.
IFIS Community Protection (CP) profile questions
You may be asked IFIS CP profile questions when lodging a FID. Make sure you provide enough information about the food to support your answer. For mixed or processed food, this includes a list and the percentage of ingredients.
Example questions:
Whole food:
- Are the goods sesame seeds?
Ingredients in a mixed or processed food:
- Do the goods contain more than 30% peanuts or peanut products?
Referral for biosecurity or food safety assessment
Commercial and government documentation are part of the clearance process for FIDs. They are referred for biosecurity assessment, to IFIS, or both.
Make sure all documentation meets our Minimum Document Requirements Policy.
Provide clear, complete and correct documentation. This will reduce the time of processing a FID.
Details to provide
For each FID referred to us, you must provide:
- importer name
- importer address
- importer contact phone
- importer email address (where available)
- location where the goods will be inspected.
Documents to include
For each FID referred to us, you must also lodge information via the Cargo Online Lodgement System (COLS):
- Line identification
- Lot code list
- Laboratory Nomination Form
Line identification
You must provide a document that links each line in the FID to each type of food on the commercial documentation. This may be an invoice, packing list or lot code list.
We can’t process your FID if you don’t provide a document, or it doesn’t provide clear linkages. You will be asked to submit new or revised documents.
Lot code lists
You must have a lot code list for each type of food (batch) in the FID. Provide us a lot code list when we’re processing your FID and also during an inspection. We use it to estimate how long an inspection will take and how many samples need to be tested.
A lot is a quantity of food:
- of a particular kind
- prepared under the same general conditions
- from a particular packing or preparation unit
- prepared or packaged during a particular period (usually a 24-hour period).
The manufacturer uses marks or codes to identify each lot. 'Use-by' or packing dates can be used if it’s in day/month/year format.
A lot code list contains all lot codes within a consignment. It identifies the number of cartons or quantity per lot for each type of food (batch).
For example: Lot 2004/07 – 100 cartons x 24 x 375g cans of tomatoes.
Laboratory nomination form
We issue you with a Food Control Certificate that states if samples will be required for analytical testing.
Find out how to book a laboratory for food testing.