17 June 2025
Who does this notice affect?
Food importers and brokers acting on behalf of food importers.
What has changed?
Cases documenting the food safety requirements that apply to food imported into Australia that is intended for sale, were released on 15 June 2025. These are now incorporated into the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).
Key changes:
- The food safety requirements are now located in cases within the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).
- The BICON webpage includes references to food safety requirements in BICON.
- The BICON homepage provides functionality to search for the food safety requirements:
- After entering either your food description in the quick search field, tariff code or scientific name in their relevant tabs, BICON will list returned cases that match your search, under ‘Search Results’:
- Click on the ‘Biosecurity Import Conditions Cases’ tab to view the list of matched biosecurity cases.
- Click on the ‘Food Safety Requirements Cases’ tab to view the food safety cases that have matched your search.
- Your food must meet the biosecurity import conditions listed in the biosecurity case before the food safety requirements in the food safety case apply.
- Food safety cases are identified with a pink coloured banner. The example below demonstrates the case that matched a search for ‘cheese’ being the ‘Dairy and dairy products’ case:
- You will be presented with questions about the food you plan to import. The food safety case will provide you with all the information you need to know about:
- what is required prior to import (i.e. what documentation is required)
- what occurs on arrival, such as the analytical tests that may apply and how to nominate a laboratory
- what occurs after an imported food inspection is completed.
Further information:
For more information visit Inclusion of food safety requirements in BICON or contact the Imported Food section foodimp@aff.gov.au.