7 October 2025
Who does this notice affect?
Biosecurity industry participants (BIPs) holding an approved arrangement for:
- class 1.1 Sea and air freight depot (unrestricted) or
- class 1.3 Sea and air freight depot (restricted).
What has changed?
Class 1.1 and 1.3 conditions have been updated to address emerging biosecurity risks including mosquito incursions, hitchhiker pests, exotic weeds and unsuitable site environments.
The revised class 1.1 conditions (version 6) and class 1.3 conditions (version 7) have been published alongside the current class conditions on the Conditions for operating approved arrangements webpage.
Transition timeline
Audit pause
From the date of this notice, class 1.1 and 1.3 audits for existing sites will be put on hold and recommence 2 February 2026, unless the approved arrangement is under regulatory enforcement action or an audit is required by the department to determine the arrangement’s compliance.
Notice dates
- From 10 November 2025 class 1.1 and 1.3 holders will receive a department notice of intention to vary class conditions.
- From 1 December 2025 class 1.1 and 1.3 holders will receive a department notice of variation and the revised class conditions will then come into effect.
New applications
Class 1.1 and 1.3 applications submitted from 13 October will be assessed and audited under the updated class conditions.
Background information
Key updates to the class conditions include the addition of new conditions tables (which were first introduced into class 3 – processing in 2021) for:
- site hygiene and site hygiene monitoring
- verification of goods
- managing animals, invertebrates and contamination at receipt of goods.
In April 2024, the draft class conditions were distributed to industry as part of a Have Your Say survey seeking industry feedback (industry advice notice 73-2024).
Further information
For further information, please email the Approved Arrangements Program at aa.canberra@aff.gov.au.