145-2025: Minimum documentary and import declaration requirements policy update to methyl bromide fumigation certificate requirements

9 May 2024

Who does this notice affect?

Importers, suppliers and customs brokers for goods fumigated with methyl bromide prior to export to Australia, and accredited persons operating under the class 19 approved arrangements.

What has changed?

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry implemented version 3.0 of the Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology on 1 May 2025. The methodology includes changes to the minimum requirements for fumigation certificates for treatments performed according to the methodology. These minimum requirements are listed in version 3.0 of the methodology in section 12 Documentation. Templates that meet the new requirements are available now.

The Minimum documentary and import declaration requirements policy (Min Docs policy) will be updated with revised requirements for methyl bromide fumigation certificates. This change harmonises certificate requirements where possible, and these will now be articulated through import conditions in BICON rather than the Min Docs policy.

Section

Version 4.1 wording

Version 4.2 wording

4.6.6

Information requirements by treatment type
Below are the information requirements for each treatment type.
Fumigations:

name of fumigant/chemical
dosage expressed as mass per volume; for example, grams per cubic metre
duration/exposure period; for example, hours or minutes
minimum temperature
maximum pressure (if applicable for fumigations performed under vacuum)
date the treatment was completed
additional requirements for methyl bromide fumigations:
- for registered treatment providers, listed on the List of Treatment Providers, treatment certificates must include the information required by Appendix 3 of the Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology.
- for unregistered treatment providers, treatment certificates must include sufficient evidence to support that the goods and/or packaging have been fumigated to the requirements of section 1.4, 1.5, and 1.6 of the Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology.  A statement confirming that the target of the fumigation conforms to the plastic wrapping, impervious surface and timber thickness requirements at the time of fumigation, as per Appendix 3 of the Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology is required.
- for BMSB treatments, treatment certificates must include information required by the department outlined in the BMSB methyl bromide fumigation certificate requirement.

Information requirements by treatment type
Below are the information requirements for each treatment type.
Fumigations:

name of fumigant/chemical
dosage expressed as mass per volume; for example, grams per cubic metre
duration/exposure period; for example, hours or minutes
minimum temperature
maximum pressure (if applicable for fumigations performed under vacuum)
date the treatment was completed
additional information and template requirements for methyl bromide fumigation certificates are included in import conditions outlined in relevant BICON cases.

Import industry advice notice 122-2025 outlines that a transition period for treatment certificates will be in place until 30 June 2025.

Methyl bromide fumigation certificates that meet the requirements of section 12.3 of the Methyl bromide fumigation methodology version 3.0 will be accepted for treatments commencing after 1 May 2025 00:00 (midnight local time).

Certificates that meet current import conditions and Minimum documentary and import declaration requirements policy version 4.1 requirements will continue to be accepted for treatments commencing prior to 1 July 2025 00:00 (midnight local time).

Unless otherwise stated in import conditions, all offshore fumigation certificates for treatments commencing after 1 July 2025 00:00 (midnight local time) must contain the information outlined at section 12.3 of the Methyl bromide fumigation methodology v3.0.

A help card will be available on Learnhub for accredited persons who assess methyl bromide fumigation certificates as part of their class 19 approved arrangement.

Further information

For further information about these changes, refer to the following webpages:

Methodologies and documents for biosecurity treatments

Methyl bromide fumigation methodology – Prepare now for 2025 update

Minimum documentary and import declaration requirements policy

Help card: How to login to Learnhub (For approved arrangement class 19 accredited persons)

145-2025: Minimum documentary and import declaration requirements policy update to methyl bromide fumigation certificate requirements

Who does this notice affect?

What has changed?

Further information

General enquiries