3 June 2026
Who does this notice affect?
Importers and brokers of:
- Retail-ready cosmetics containing less than 20% animal-derived ingredients
- Soaps
- Cephalopods caught using trawl or purse seine methods for animal consumption.
What has changed?
Expansion of CBIS to additional commodity import pathways
The department is adding three new import pathways onto the Compliance-Based Intervention Scheme (CBIS). This change will take effect on 30 June 2026.
CBIS will:
- manage document assessment rates for cosmetics and soap; and
- manage inspection rates for trawler or purse seine-caught cephalopods at the time of importation.
Only the tariff codes specified below are eligible.
| Import pathway | Eligible tariff codes | Intervention measure |
|---|---|---|
| Retail-ready cosmetics that contain animal-derived ingredients, where the animal-derived content is less than 20% by mass | 3303 3304 3306.10 3307.10 3307.20 3307.30 | Documentation |
| Soaps | 3401 3402 | Documentation |
| Trawl or purse seine caught cephalopods for animal consumption | 0307.43 0511.91 | Inspection |
Reduced document assessment or inspection rates will not apply immediately as importers will first need to build their compliance history in the CBIS system.
Importers must continue to meet all import conditions. There are no changes to the import conditions.
If biosecurity risks change, or the CBIS is not operating as anticipated, the department may adjust intervention rates to ensure safe trade and maintain Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP).
What is the Compliance-Based Intervention Scheme (CBIS)?
CBIS is a regulatory tool designed to adjust biosecurity intervention levels based on biosecurity and compliance risk.
By demonstrating and maintaining good compliance with our import requirements, importers benefit from reduced regulatory intervention, resulting in a more streamlined biosecurity clearance process at the Australian border and reduced regulatory costs.
How does the CBIS work for document-controlled pathways?
Document-controlled pathways are subject to 100% mandatory biosecurity document assessment at the time of importation. This includes presentation of documentation as specified within the import conditions.
Document-controlled pathways must continue to meet biosecurity import conditions; however, the CBIS will manage and adjust % rate at which we conduct biosecurity document assessments based on the importers demonstrated and maintained compliance history for those goods.
When eligible for a reduced biosecurity document assessment rate, brokers and importers will notice some consignment lines are not referred to the department for biosecurity assessment and instead receive a clear status. Brokers and importers will also receive a notice from the department advising that the consignment lines have been released from biosecurity control under the CBIS.
The biosecurity document assessment rate will automatically increase back to 100% if non-compliance is detected. Any failures at initial document assessment (e.g. missing, non-compliant or expired documentation) will be recorded as a non-compliance in CBIS. Importers will have to rebuild their compliance history again to requalify for a reduced rate of intervention.
How does the CBIS work for inspection-controlled pathways?
Inspection-controlled pathways are subject to 100% mandatory biosecurity inspection at the time of importation. For trawl or purse seine-caught cephalopods, this includes checking that the consignment contains non‑viable cephalopods only (i.e. no finfish or other by‑catch), are in clean, new packaging and free from biosecurity risk material.
Inspection-controlled pathways must continue to meet biosecurity import conditions; however, the CBIS will manage and adjust % rate at which we conduct inspections based on the importers demonstrated and maintained compliance history for those goods.
When eligible for a reduced biosecurity inspection rate, brokers and importers will notice a 'Movement withheld - CBIS Pending documentation' direction issued that guides the next steps in the biosecurity clearance process. Further directions or notices will then be given by a biosecurity officer.
Inspection rates will also automatically increase back to 100% if non-compliance is detected. Any failures at inspection (e.g. any presence of by-catch) will be recorded as a non-compliance in CBIS. Importers will have to rebuild their compliance history again to requalify for a reduced rate of intervention.
What if I import under a different tariff code?
Currently only the tariff codes listed are eligible for the CBIS. You may suggest additional tariff codes for consideration by emailing CBIS@aff.gov.au. The department will assess whether to expand eligibility in the future. Any updates will be communicated through an Import Industry Advice Notice.
What do I need to do?
To qualify for risk-based intervention under CBIS, importers and brokers must continue to:
- import an eligible commodity under an eligible tariff code;
- answer the new profile questions outlined below accurately; and
- meet import conditions for the goods.
Imported goods eligible for CBIS will still be required to meet other Australian regulatory requirements.
New community protection profile questions
The following profile questions will take effect prior to 30 June 2026.
Customs brokers lodging declarations in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) must answer ‘Y’ to these questions for the consignment line to become eligible for CBIS.
If the goods are not imported by the eligible import pathway, then customs brokers must answer ‘N’. It is possible that all answers will be ‘N’.
| Tariff code | Profile question | Respond YES when commodities are imported through this BICON import pathway and become eligible for CBIS |
|---|---|---|
| 0307.43 0511.91 | Are the goods squid or other cephalopods, caught using trawl or purse seine fishing methods, and for animal consumption only? | Goods for animal consumption — Bony fish and cephalopods — Cephalopods only, caught using trawl or purse seine method from all countries |
| 3303 3304 3306.10 3307.10 3307.20 3307.30 | Are the goods retail ready packaged cosmetics that contain animal derived ingredients, where the total animal derived content is less than 20 percent by mass? | Cosmetics and soaps — Cosmetics for non-personal use for human use only — Less than 20% animal derived material by mass and retail packaged |
| 3401 3402 | Are the goods soaps or washing preparations intended for application to the skin of humans or animals and are not 100 percent synthetic (i.e. contain ingredients derived from biological materials, such as plant or animal fats and oils)? | Cosmetics and soaps — Soaps for non-personal use for all end uses |
Notes:
- No level of processing applied to an ingredient of biological origin will render it synthetic.
- Additional profile questions are used to capture higher-risk cosmetics, including animal derived ingredients of 20 percent or greater by mass.
Further information
If you require further information, please email the CBIS program on CBIS@aff.gov.au. Alternatively, please contact Imports on 1800 900 090 or imports@aff.gov.au.
More information on CBIS is available on the department’s webpage Compliance-Based Intervention Scheme (CBIS).
Biosecurity import conditions are available on the department’s Biosecurity Import Conditions database (BICON).