16-2025: Commencement of the application of fees for post-inspection in-office imported food sample management activities on 3 February 2025

20 January 2025

Who does this notice affect?

Industry stakeholders, including commercial importers and brokers importing consignments of imported food subject to analytical testing under the Imported Food Control Act 1992.

What has changed?

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) undertook a cost recovery review of imported food sample management activities. Legal advice determined that the department is not meeting legislative cost recovery obligations as the time taken to conduct in-office post-inspection management activities for imported food samples, taken in accordance with the Imported Food Control Act 1992 (the Act) for diagnostic services completed by third party appointed analysts, is not being charged.

To meet legislative cost recovery obligations from 3 February 2025 the department will impose fees for post-inspection in-office imported food sample management activities when the samples are:

1. returned to the regional office by the inspecting officer and stored by the department for collection, and
2. collected from the regional office, by the courier, for delivery to the appointed analyst.

All in-office sample management activities that are cost recoverable will incur a fee-for-service aligned with the Imported Food Regulations 2019 at a rate of $39 per 15 minutes or part thereof.

Fees will not be applied retrospectively and will not impact domestic farmers and producers.

There are options available to industry:

1. Choose to participate in the Imported Food Sample Management Trial which is testing alternative stakeholder transport processes for imported food sample management. This industry-led approach would not incur the additional charge for an officer to provide this regulatory service.
   
   To find out more contact ImportedFood-PostInspection@aff.gov.au. 
    
2. Eligible applicants can choose to enter into a Food Import Compliance Agreement (FICA), under which the importers manage the clearance of their own goods. This industry-led approach would not incur the additional charge for an officer to provide this service
   
   To see if you are eligible for a FICA visit our FICA page.
    
3. The department can continue to provide the service and fees will be applied.

Further information

Industry participants requesting further information can contact the department at costrecovery@aff.gov.au.