11 May 2026
Who does this notice affect?
All clients required to use the department’s Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON) during this planned maintenance period.
All importers and customs brokers who will be required to lodge imported cargo documentation to the department for biosecurity assessment during this planned maintenance period.
All importers of plants, cats and/or dogs who will be required to use the Post Entry Biosecurity System during this planned maintenance period.
All shipping agents or operators of maritime conveyances who will be required to report pre-arrival information during this planned maintenance period.
*All clients submitting the below import declarations:
- Full Import Declaration (FID)
- Long Form Self Assessed Clearance (LFSAC)
- Short Form Self Assessed Clearance (SFSAC)
- Cargo Report Self Assessed Clearance (CRSAC)
- Cargo Report Personal Effects (PE)
Information
Due to scheduled infrastructure maintenance, there will be a scheduled service disruption to the following systems between 23:00 Sunday 17 May to 01:00 Monday 18 May 2026 (AEST):
- BICON
- DAFF messaging*
- Cargo Online Lodgement System (COLS)
- Cargo Online Lodgement System Business-To-Government (COLSB2G)
- Maritime and Aircraft Reporting System (MARS)
- Post Entry Biosecurity System (PEBS)
Users of the above-listed systems may experience multiple brief intermittent outages during the maintenance window.
*Clients anticipating responses from the department in relation to the above-listed import declaration types may also experience some delays in receiving these responses during the maintenance window. These messages may be queued briefly and send following each outage.
Action
BICON users are advised to complete and submit any in-progress import permit applications prior to the commencement of this planned outage period. BICON users are advised to also avoid using the system for the duration of the maintenance window.
For all other affected system users, no action is required. The department apologises for any inconvenience caused.