Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Drought, disaster and rural support
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Levies and charges on agricultural products
    • Mouse infestation advice
    • Plant health
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Report a concern
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2025-26

    Budget 2025-26

    The 2025–26 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 25 March 2025.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Import
  4. Online services and systems
  5. Contingency arrangements for system outages

Sidebar first - Import

  • Online services and systems
    • Biosecurity Portal
      • Set up secure access to the Portal
      • Portal support
      • New release information
    • External Verification for eCertificates (EVE)
    • Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON)
      • BICON import permits
        • Importing COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits
        • Fit and proper test for import permit applicants
        • Standard permits for biological products
        • Importing test kits for foot and mouth disease or other notifiable animal diseases
        • Importing nucleic acid (genetic material), including synthetic nucleic acid
      • BICON software developers guide
      • Charges for import permits
      • Support using BICON
      • Register an account in BICON
      • Review of plant, animal and biological import conditions
    • Broker reports
    • Cargo Online Lodgement System (COLS)
      • COLS support
      • Lodging import documents
      • COLS minimum system operating requirements
      • COLS software developers guide
      • COLS registration information
    • Contingency arrangements for system outages
    • Electronic Certification (eCert) for imports
    • Approved Arrangement Management Product (AAMP)
    • Postcode delivery classifications
    • STEPS Program

Contingency arrangements for system outages

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the department) has reviewed its arrangements for clearing imported cargo when the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (Customs) Integrated Cargo System (ICS) or the key the department import systems are not available. After an extensive consultation period with industry we have developed the following documents to provide information and guidance during contingency arrangements:

  • the National Business Continuity Plan for Import Cargo Systems
  • the Industry Guidelines for Import Cargo System Outages.

These documents describe:

  • the contingency arrangements the department will put in place when systems are affected
  • how imported cargo clearances will be prioritised
  • your role in assisting the department to process cargo.

The National Business Continuity Plan for Import Cargo Systems

This document intends to communicate a set of national principles for contingency arrangements in the event of a system outage that affects the clearance of imported cargo:

Download

Document Pages File size
National Cargo and Vessel Business Continuity Plan PDF 24 337 KB
National Cargo and Vessel Business Continuity Plan DOCX 24 232 KB

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

The Industry Guidelines for Import Cargo Systems Outages

This document intends to provide a clear set of instructions to, and expectations of, external stakeholders including brokers and Customs during contingency arrangements:

Download

Document Pages File size
Industry Guidelines for Import Cargo System Outages PDF 21 818 KB
Industry Guidelines for Import Cargo System Outages DOCX 21 698 KB

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

Both documents have been developed by a National Project Team and have been the subject of extensive review. Key industry representatives were also consulted during the development of these documents.

Contact details

Hard copies of these documents are available on request by emailing the National Cargo Business Continuity Plan Coordinator.

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip
Page last updated: 23 April 2021

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram