Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Help for those affected by flood

Visit nema.gov.au.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Minister
  • 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
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Plant health
    • Drought and rural support
    • Mouse infestation advice
    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 Lowering biosecurity risks to Australia, and assisting industry to accelerate growth towards a $100 billion agricultural sector by 2030.
    • 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
    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)
    • Our science strategy
    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
    Read more about our Budget

    Budget October 2022-23

    The 2022–23 October Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 25 October 2022.

    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. Industry advice notices
  5. Import industry advice notices 2021
  6. 49-2021

Sidebar first - Import

  • Industry advice notices
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021

49-2021: UPDATE – Requirements for importing Foetal Bovine Serum into Australia

30 March 2021

Who does this notice affect?

The department is providing an update to relevant industry representatives and importers of bulk Foetal Bovine Serum (FBS) for in-vitro use, regarding changes to the department’s process for assessing applications to import FBS into Australia.

What has changed?

In early 2019, the department wrote to industry representatives and importers of bovine serum and plasma, and related products, to inform them of changes to the department’s permit assessment process for FBS. These assessment changes were implemented to provide the department with greater assurance of the sourcing and processing of FBS for import, to ensure the animal biosecurity risks are adequately managed to meet Australia’s Appropriate Level of Protection.

The changed assessment process includes a requirement for the department to understand the competent authority’s oversight of FBS production and processing for export in the country from which the FBS is sourced. To-date, the department has approved for bulk FBS for in-vitro use (that has not been irradiated) to be produced for export to Australia from:

  • the United States
  • New Zealand.

While imports from other countries may be possible, a thorough assessment of the relevant competent authority’s regulatory processes and oversight will be required before a permit can be issued. Prospective importers or overseas government authorities may apply for such an assessment to occur, noting that such competent authority assessments can take some time and are dependent on the competent authority in question as well as the resources available within the department.

Because FBS is used widely in research and to produce pharmaceutical and veterinary products, and has the potential to harbour significant diseases, the department has continued to review the import requirements for FBS. The department expects to seek industry input on this review in the latter half of 2021.

Further information

For further information about the update above, please contact the department via: imports@awe.gov.au.

 

 

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

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 30 March 2021

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.