All imports of live invertebrate animals and their reproductive material require an import permit. These applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis and there is no guarantee an import permit will be granted.
Imports of live invertebrate animals from overseas can pose a major risk to Australia’s natural environment, our food security and economy. Many invertebrate animals are known pests or have the potential to harbour and spread diseases of significant animal, plant or human health concern.
Imports of live invertebrate animals and their reproductive material are currently permitted for research or laboratory purposes. Biological control agents are also permitted under strict conditions.
What is an invertebrate animal?
Invertebrates include all multi-cellular animal species without backbones. This includes species of:
- Hexapoda (insects, springtails, etc)
- Chelicerata (spiders, scorpions, etc)
- Myriapoda (centipedes, millipedes, etc)
- Annelids (worms and leeches)
- Platyhelminthes (flatworms)
- Molluscs (snails, squids, etc)
- Crustacea (crabs, water fleas, etc)
- Nematoda (roundworms).
Importing invertebrate animals
All imports of live invertebrate animals and their reproductive material require an import permit. These applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis and there is no guarantee an import permit will be granted.
In some cases, applications may need to be referred to external agencies or other government departments for specific expert advice.
It is the importer's responsibility to comply with the requirements for importing live
specimens into Australia under:
- Part 2 of the List of Specimens Taken to be Suitable for Live Import under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
- The Live Import List managed by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
For further information, please contact DCCEEW’s Wildlife Trade Office.
Import requirements
For detailed import requirements for invertebrate animals and their reproductive material, please search the name of the animal you wish to bring to Australia on the Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) system.
Assessing import permits
The import and post-arrival conditions for invertebrate animals and their reproductive material will vary depending on the species and the proposed end use. There are two areas within the department primarily responsible for these assessments, and their current responsibilities are outlined below.
Animal and Biological Imports Branch
The Animal and Biological Imports Branch assesses import permit applications for:
- Mosquitoes
- Bees
- Tarantulas and other spiders
- Scorpions
- Aquatic invertebrates such as molluscs, echinoderms, cnidarians and various crustaceans
- Various worms (nematodes, roundworms, flatworms, etc)
For further information on importing these invertebrate species, contact Animal and Biological Imports Branch.
Plant Import Operations Branch
The Plant Import Operations Branch assesses import permit applications for:
- Drosophila
- Biological control agents
- invertebrate species that could potentially be used to control weeds, plant pathogens or plant pests
- Invertebrate species known to be plant pests or with the potential to be plant pests.
For further information on importing these invertebrate species, contact Plant Import Operations.
Contact us
If you require further information about the import of invertebrate animals and their reproductive material, or if you are unsure which section is responsible for the invertebrate you want to import, please contact the Animal and Biological Imports Branch.