20 March 2026
Who does this notice affect?
This notice affects stakeholders who are involved in the importation of goods into Australia, its external territories and the Torres Strait.
What is changing?
On 20 March 2026, the Legislation (Biosecurity Goods Determinations) Sunset-altering Declaration 2026, made by the Attorney-General, came into effect to align the sunsetting dates for all current determinations made under section 174 of the Biosecurity Act 2015 to 1 October 2031.
These determinations specify classes of goods that cannot be brought into certain parts of Australian territory unless specific conditions are met. The following determinations apply to some of Australia’s external territories and the Torres Strait and were scheduled to sunset on 1 October 2026:
- Biosecurity (Prohibited and Conditionally Non-prohibited Goods – Torres Strait) Determination 2016
- Biosecurity (Prohibited and Conditionally Non-prohibited Goods – Christmas Island) Determination 2016
- Biosecurity (Prohibited and Conditionally Non-prohibited Goods – Cocos (Keeling) Islands) Determination 2016
- Biosecurity (Prohibited and Conditionally Non-prohibited Goods – Norfolk Island) Determination 2016
The following determination applies to the Australian mainland and was scheduled to sunset on 1 April 2031.
All determinations will now sunset on 1 October 2031. Importantly, import conditions remain the same and the determinations continue to operate as usual.
This alignment was requested by the Director of Biosecurity (on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) and the Director of Human Biosecurity (on behalf of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. The extended timeframe will allow both departments to review the regulatory framework for importing goods. This review will identify opportunities to streamline, simplify, and reduce unnecessary regulatory burden, and improve efficiency before the determinations are remade. This review is expected to benefit importers and support the Australian Government’s broader productivity agenda.
What happens next?
The first stage of the review to identify preliminary reform options is expected to be completed by end-2026. Stakeholders will have an opportunity to be involved in this review.
Separately, updates to the Biosecurity (Conditionally Non-prohibited Goods) Determination 2021 are already underway and are expected to be completed by mid 2026.
Further information
Biosecurity Legislation Section - biosecuritylegislationfeedback@aff.gov.au