The department has published a range of standard permit conditions for certain commodities to help streamline the permit application process.
A standard permit contains a specific set of conditions that have been assessed by the department as being appropriate to manage biosecurity risks for a certain commodity type.
If you can meet all of the import conditions in a standard permit case, we recommend you apply for a standard permit.
The benefits of applying for a standard import permit
- The application process is quicker: with import conditions already set, the department can process applications in a much shorter timeframe.
- Applications are cheaper: the application costs just $180, including the $120 standard application levy and a $60 assessment fee.
- The permits are broader: once approved, a standard permit may be used to import multiple goods in the same commodity class, provided all of the conditions on the standard permit can be met.
Note: the $60 assessment fee allows applicants to apply for multiple sets of import conditions for goods in the same commodity class.
Goods which meet the standard permit conditions
Standard permit cases have been developed for:
- Animal fluids and tissues (excl. viable reproductive tissues)
- Antibodies
- Antigens
- Aquaculture feed and aquatic meals
- Baits, attractants, lures and poisons
- Bee pollen
- Biological products
- Brine shrimp eggs for pet food use
- Bulk enzymes
- Bulk enzymes for environmental use
- Butter and cheese from countries free of foot and mouth disease
- Cell lines and/or supernatant fluid
- Collagen including collagen casings
- Cooked pig (pork) meat
- Culture media (no greater than 20ml or 20g animal derived material)
- Deceased human bodies
- Farmed finfish
- Food for aquatic animals enclosed in aquariums or ponds and containing aquatic animal ingredients
- Food items
- Genetic material
- Highly processed tallow derivatives for all end uses (excluding stockfeed)
- Human fluids and tissues
- Human therapeutics and medicines for use in clinical trials
- Human therapeutics and medicines registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods
- Medical Devices on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods
- Microalgae for human consumption and human therapeutic use
- Microorganisms (including viruses)
- Prepared media including pre-poured plates, swabs and vials
- Purified laboratory reagents, toxins and venoms
- Rawhide for return to Australia or for temporary importation
- Semi-synthetic, fermentation derived active ingredients for veterinary and human therapeutic use
- Soil and water samples
- Test kits
- Transhipped ship stores
- Uncooked frozen whole, frozen partially peeled, peeled or highly processed prawns
- Uncooked pig (pork) meat
- Unretorted Salmoidae fish
- Untanned hides and skins
Import conditions can be found on the Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) system. This database lists the categories of goods that can be imported into Australia and stipulates the import conditions that are required to manage the biosecurity risk posed by these goods. The BICON help page and task card provides information and tips to help you search BICON. All standard permit cases will identify that a permit is required before importing the goods and list each of the conditions required to do so. The information in BICON is the same information that the department’s border staff use when inspecting and clearing goods arriving in the country.
Permit applicants must self-assess whether they are able to meet all of the import conditions for a standard permit. If you meet all of these conditions, then you can apply for a standard permit.
What happens if you are unable to meet all the conditions for a standard permit?
If you cannot meet all of the listed import conditions, then you will need to apply for a non-standard permit. An application import permit for a non-standard permit will require a more detailed biosecurity risk assessment to determine whether the goods can be imported and what import conditions need to be applied.
Lodgement of an import permit application
You can lodge an electronic import permit application through the Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) system. For information about fees and charges, please review the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Charging guidelines.
Do I need to send through any documentation to the assessing officer for my application?
The assessing officer will contact you if any additional information or clarification is required to support your standard permit application.
Should you require clarification regarding a particular condition in a standard permit case, applicants and permit holders should contact the department’s Client Contact Group on 1800 900 090.
Can I change the conditions of my standard permit?
The conditions on a standard permit cannot be changed. If you are unable or unwilling to meet all of the import conditions on a standard permit, then you will need to apply for a non-standard permit.
My standard permit does not list a specific manufacturer, do I need to get a variation to fix this?
Most standard permits do not require holders to import their goods from a specific manufacturer. If a standard permit is manufacturer-specific, the manufacturer’s details will be listed on the permit.
Can I update the personal information on my standard permit?
Permit holders may apply for a variation to an existing standard permit to update personal information (e.g. name, address, telephone number, fax number or email address).
It is the importer’s responsibility to ensure the information on an import permit is accurate, up-to-date, relevant and not misleading. If you need to vary your existing import permit, additional fees may apply. Please note, varied permits will retain the expiry date of the original permit. If your permit is due to expire soon, we recommend applying for a new permit instead of applying for a variation.
No charges apply for variation applications where importers seek to update their personal information or the details of exporters or agents that are already identified on the permit. Note that this does not apply if the importer, exporter or agent is a company or if the country of export has changed.
Note: Fees for variations will not be charged if the change is required due to correct departmental errors.
For more information
Please contact the department if you would like further information on standard import permits.
- Phone: 1800 900 090 or ;+61 3 8318 6700 (from outside Australia)
- Email imports@awe.gov.au or submit an online enquiry.
- The ‘Contact Us’ function within BICON