30 July 2026
Who does this notice affect?
All vessel owners, operators, masters, and shipping agents who represent international vessel operators and Australian military vessel operators preparing for arrival into Australian territory and requesting a release from biosecurity control.
What has changed?
This notice outlines key requirements in relation to returning Australian goods where a request is being made to release a vessel from biosecurity control. General advice on Australia's mandatory biosecurity requirements when requesting a release from biosecurity control can be found at Release from biosecurity control.
- Permits and conditions
When a vessel operator or agent requests a vessel to be released from biosecurity control, returning Australian goods must be inspected and managed in accordance with:
- relevant BICON conditions BICON - Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions
- where applicable, a valid import permit. Importing goods.
- Inspection
Biosecurity officers must be able to inspect and verify that all the following criteria are met for returning Australian goods to remain onboard the vessel:
- The goods are commercially manufactured and packaged in Australia.
- The goods are a product of Australia.
- The packaging is:
- intact
- unopened
- not broken.
- The goods are clearly identifiable.
- An invoice or other sufficient evidence confirming the goods were purchased in Australia.
- The goods are kept segregated from international products.
- Returning Australian goods are goods that originated in and were purchased in Australia, exported and subsequently imported back into Australia.
- This includes goods shipped between two Australian ports that exited and re-entered Australian territory en-route, for example: trans-shipped goods.
- The goods must not have been altered while offshore.
- Where growing, processing or manufacturing occurs offshore that changes the nature of the product:
- the goods will be considered a new product rather than of Australian origin
- the relevant BICON conditions will apply.
- Exclusions
These criteria do not apply to returning Australian goods that include fresh fruit or vegetables. These products, and any products that do not meet the criteria outlined above, must be assessed and managed in accordance with the relevant BICON - Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions case requirements.
Further information
View the Vessel’s webpages for information on Australia’s biosecurity reporting obligations and responsibilities.