21 February 2025
Attention
Stakeholders in the import industries including importers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, compliance agreement holders and biosecurity industry participants.
Purpose
To advise stakeholders that public engagement on changes to regulatory charges for biosecurity and imported food activities commenced on 21 February 2025 and is accessible through the department’s 'Have Your Say’ platform.
Key points
Changes to regulatory charging in 2025–26
The department reviews fees and charges annually, to ensure they continue to align with the cost to deliver biosecurity and imported food regulatory activity. Through the 2024-2025 annual review we identified gaps in charging for some regulatory activities and opportunities to improve current cost recovery arrangements.
In 2025–26 we will:
- apply indexation to fees and charges for biosecurity and imported food regulatory activities.
- commence full charging for all diagnostic activities (i.e. tests, examinations) we conduct to assess and manage biosecurity risk in relation to goods and conveyances (vessels and aircraft).
These changes commence on 1 July 2025.
Improvements to current cost recovery arrangements
In 2025–26 the department is proposing to improve cost recovery for diagnostic activity and approved arrangements by amending legislation to introduce:
- a revised fee structure for existing diagnostic activities the department undertakes, where most diagnostics activities will be listed per activity i.e. test, examination, with a description of what the fee covers and the rate it will be charged.
- a one-off upgrade charge, applicable to approved arrangement holder’s when their status changes from single to multiple holder in the same financial year.
Pending decision of government, the revised fee structure for diagnostics and proposed new charge for approved arrangements will commence 1 July 2025.
2025–26 rates for biosecurity and imported foods regulatory charges and detailed information on the proposed improvements to cost recovery for diagnostic activities and approved arrangements have been published through the department’s ‘Have Your Say’, platform.
The ‘Have Your Say’ closes, AEDT 5pm 21 March 2025.
We invite you to visit our website and review these documents.
Instructions
Visit our website and review the changes to regulatory fees and charges.
Enquiries can be directed to the BioCRIS@aff.gov.au.
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