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Department of Agriculture

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  3. Biosecurity
  4. Biosecurity questions and answers

Sidebar first - Biosecurity

  • Biosecurity
    • Coronavirus
      • Food and agriculture
      • Exports
      • Imports
      • Domestic animals
    • Commonwealth Biosecurity 2030
    • Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper-Biosecurity Surveillance and Analysis
      • Improving biosecurity surveillance and analysis
      • Forum Communique-July 2017
      • Australian Livestock Industry Health Studies
    • Onshore Biosecurity Levy
    • Biosecurity Matters
      • Gardening
      • Farming
      • Domestic travel
      • International travel
      • Online shopping
      • Recreational fishing
      • Bushwalking
      • Owning pets
      • Boat owner
      • Long distance driver
    • Committees and partnerships
      • Biosecurity Futures group
      • Industry Consultative committees
      • International Cargo Cooperative Biosecurity Arrangement
      • Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme
      • National Biosecurity Committee
        • National Biosecurity Forum
          • Previous forums
        • National Biosecurity Emergency Preparedness Expert Group
        • Sheep and Goat Traceability Task Force
        • State and territory biosecurity roundtables
        • Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity
          • Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity Review
            • Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity Review Discussion Paper
            • Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity Review Draft Report
            • Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity Review Final Report
            • AGMIN Joint Statement
            • Response from agriculture ministers
              • Property Identification Reforms
          • Protocol on biosecurity data and information sharing between the Commonwealth, State and Territory biosecurity agencies
          • National Surveillance and Diagnostics Framework
          • National Transition Program Policy Framework
          • National Biosecurity Engagement and Communication Framework
          • National Framework for the Management of Established Pests and Diseases of National Significance
        • National Biosecurity Response Team Arrangements 2017-2019
        • National Environment and Community Biosecurity Research, Development and Extension Strategy 2021-26
        • National RD&E Priorities for Invasive Plants and Animals 2016-2020
        • NBC Membership List
      • Northern Australia Biosecurity Framework
        • Northern Australia Biosecurity Framework Reference Group
      • Partnerships in biosecurity
        • MOU Agriculture and Health
      • National Biosecurity Statement
        • Communication and Engagement Strategy
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
      • Aircraft
        • Aircraft disinsection
          • Aircraft Disinsection Information (ADI) and Import Relationship and Access Manager (iRAM)
          • Aircraft Disinsection Information (ADI) and Import Relationship and Access Manager (iRAM) support
          • Aircraft disinsection procedures for flights into Australia and New Zealand
        • Aircraft application form
        • Arrangements for aircraft invoking sovereign immunity
        • Guidelines for airline and aircraft operators arriving in Australian territory
        • Landing places determined as first points of entry for aircraft
      • Vessels
        • Australian registered vessels
        • Biosecurity legislation and the Australian territory
        • Cabotage cargo (fertiliser, grain and stockfeed)
        • Commercial vessel biosecurity reporting
          • Crew change
          • Routine vessel inspections
          • Ship sanitation certification
          • Coastal status or coastal stripping of commercial vessels
        • Vessels arriving at first points of entry or non-first points of entry
          • Alternative biosecurity entry point application form
          • First points of entry – information for arriving vessels and goods
          • First points of entry - seaport operator requirements
        • Human health
          • Crew change
          • Pratique
        • Marine pest biosecurity
          • Ballast Water
            • Australian Ballast Water Management Requirements
            • Ballast Water Authorisation
          • Biofouling
            • Anti-fouling and in-water cleaning guidelines
              • General recommendations
            • Biofouling management requirements
            • Consultation Regulation Impact Statement
              • Consultation Regulation Impact Statement, 2011
        • Maritime and Aircraft Reporting System (MARS)
          • MARS communications and training materials
          • MARS offline forms
        • Non-commercial vessels
          • Accredited suppliers list for termite detection services
          • Importing vessels with timber components frequently asked questions
          • Importing vessels with timber components
        • Offshore installations
          • Offshore Installations Biosecurity Guide
        • Plants and insects
          • Burnt pine longicorn beetle - person in charge questionnaire and statement
        • Pre-arrival reporting for certain Australian External Territories
        • Reportable biosecurity incidents
      • Military
        • Australian Defence Force
          • Cleaning instructions - Personal equipment
        • Visiting military
          • Essential biosecurity information for military forces
          • Foreign government vessels invoking sovereign immunity
        • Cleaning requirements
        • Military frequently asked questions
        • Military vessels
        • Offshore inspections of military equipment
        • Ration packs
      • Transhipping through Australia
        • Transhipped ship’s stores lodgement cover sheet
    • Biosecurity in Australia
      • Biosecurity Advanced Analytics Capability
      • Detector dogs
      • Innovative Biosecurity 3D X-ray Project
      • Modernising Australia’s approach to managing established pests and diseases of national significance: Discussion paper
      • Northern biosecurity
        • Aquatic pest biosecurity community awareness
        • Biosecurity Business Grants Program
        • Ranger Capability Building Grants Program
        • Biosecurity-it’s everyone’s business virtual reality experience
        • Country Handle with Care - Costa and dirtgirl Tackle Biosecurity
        • Frontline-northern biosecurity’s community song
        • Frontline Ranger Newsletter
        • Rabies Awareness-Keep a Top Watch! in your community animation
        • Report a pest, weed or disease in Northern Australia
        • You can be a Biosecurity Champion too!
          • Developing industry and supporting local growers
      • Northern Australia Biosecurity Strategy 2030
      • Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS)
        • Co-operative biosecurity in northern Australia
        • Aircraft arriving on the Australian mainland from Torres Strait
        • NAQS target pests, diseases and weeds
        • Moving goods to, from and within Torres Strait
        • Significant events in the history of NAQs
          • Celebrating 30 years of co-operative biosecurity in northern Australia
          • Commemorating 25 years of NAQS
        • Shipping and yachting in the Torres Strait
        • Map of NAQS zones
      • Public awareness and education
        • Australian biosecurity webinar series
        • Australian Biosecurity Awards
          • Current Australian Biosecurity Award recipients
          • Past Australian Biosecurity Award recipients
        • Pacific engagement
          • Exporting to Australia from the Pacific
          • Working together with our Pacific neighbours
          • Australia's biosecurity system
          • Inside the department
            • Meet the team
          • Your local authority
        • Be a Junior Biosecurity Officer
      • Reform of the biosecurity system
        • Biosecurity Training Centre
        • Industry Partnerships and Engagement
      • Reports and publications
        • 2008-12 Imported cargo processing, a DAFF time release study
        • Biosecurity Matters Newsletter
        • Australian Quarantine a shared responsibility: The Nairn report
          • Australian Quarantine a shared responsibility: The Government response
      • Pest and disease surveillance at Australia’s borders
      • Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area Biosecurity Strategy
    • Biosecurity research and innovation
      • Biosecurity Innovation Program
        • Apply now
      • How we work with you
      • Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis
      • Innovation Ideas initiative
      • Innovation Pilots Initiative
    • Biosecurity Innovation Exchange 2018
    • Biosecurity risk analysis
      • Import proposals
      • Conducting a biosecurity risk analysis
        • Appropriate Level of Protection
        • Final Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis report checklist
        • Australia’s international biosecurity obligations
        • Roles and responsibilities in a Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis
        • Scientific Advisory Group
      • Animal import risk analyses
        • Cooked turkey meat from the United States
          • Cooked turkey meat from the United States - Commencement of a review
        • Cooked duck meat from Thailand
        • Dairy products for human consumption
        • Fish and fish products for use as pet food and stockfeed
        • Hatching eggs of poultry
        • Import of live sturgeon for aquaculture
        • Natural sausage casings
        • Psittacine birds
        • Review of prawns and prawn products
          • Submissions received on the Review of prawns and prawn products – draft report
          • submissions
        • Zoo bovids from approved countries
      • Plant risk analyses
        • Plant commodity/country and pest risk analyses
        • How we conduct a plant risk analysis
      • Group pest risk analyses
        • Group pest risk analysis for scale insects
          • Draft report fact sheet
        • Group pest risk analysis for thrips and orthotospoviruses
          • Draft report
          • Fact sheet
          • Final report
        • Group pest risk analysis for mealybugs
          • Draft report
          • Draft report fact sheet
          • Final report
          • Final report fact sheet
      • Biological control agents
        • Risk analyses
          • Completed Risk Analyses
          • Current Risk Analyses
        • Host test lists
        • Protocol for biological control agents
      • Weed assessments
        • Development of the Weed Risk Assessment system
        • Weed risk assessments frequently asked questions
        • Reasons for the Weed Risk Assessment system
        • The Weed Risk Assessment process
          • Weed Risk Assessment system
      • Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis guidelines
      • Centre of excellence for biosecurity risk analysis
      • Biosecurity advices
      • Register as a stakeholder
    • Emergency preparedness and outbreak response
      • Exercises
      • National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement review
        • NBC approach to the NEBRA five year review recommendations
      • Horse Disease Response Levy review
      • Wildlife Exotic Disease Preparedness Program
        • Feral animals as hosts of exotic disease: Identification of potential disease contact between feral animals and sites of exotic disease incursion
        • Avian Influenza Viruses in Migratory Shorebirds and Nomadic Water Fowl in South Australia
        • Avian Migration and Movement pathogens in the Australo-Papuan context
        • AWHN OIE Report 2004
        • AWHN OIE Report 2005
        • Destroy and Let Lie Disposal Project
        • Development and Validation - Newcastle Disease
        • Field Surveillance and Monitoring - Leishmania in the Northern Territory
        • Final report: preparing Australia by preparing Papua New Guinea
        • GIS Mapping Software in National Surveillance Database
        • Identifying and Mapping Hendra virus
        • Identifying and Mapping Hendra Virus (2)
        • Identifying and Mapping Hendra Virus Strain Diversity (Stage 1)
        • Improving the Relevance and Efficiency of Wild Bird Surveillance for AI
        • Reservoirs of Infection: The Epidemiological Characteristics of an Emerging Pathogen
        • Summary Report - Contraceptives Pigs
        • Summary Report - pigs disease spread
    • Animal
    • Plant
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Environmental biosecurity
      • Australian Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer
      • Environmental Biosecurity Framework
      • Environmental biosecurity stakeholder engagement
      • Priority list of exotic pests, weeds and diseases
      • The Environmental Biosecurity Project Fund
    • Biosecurity questions and answers
    • Legislation
      • List of Biosecurity Preparedness Plans
      • List of Goods That May Carry Hitchhiker Pests
      • The Biosecurity Act 2015
        • Changes to import requirements
        • Introduction to the Biosecurity Act Interactive Learning tool
        • Reviewable decisions
      • Reportable biosecurity incidents
        • Reportable biosecurity incidents form
      • Compliance and enforcement
        • Biosecurity Compliance Plan 2016-17
        • Biosecurity Compliance Statement
        • Compliance and enforcement tools
        • Redline - report a biosecurity breach
        • Export and import laws and the role of the department
        • Infringement Notice Scheme
    • Fees and charges
    • Forms

Biosecurity questions and answers

​[expand all]

What’s the difference between the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment?

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment protects Australia from exotic pests and diseases, while the Department of Immigration and Border Protection intercepts illegal goods, such as drugs and weapons. The departments work together at airports, seaports and mail centres to detect and deter the unlawful movement of goods into Australia.

More about the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
More about the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

What can I bring or send to Australia?

Australia has strict laws relating to the importation of certain goods. This ensures that the biosecurity risk to Australia’s agricultural industries and unique environment is minimised.

You must declare certain food, plant material and animal products. When you declare these goods they will be checked by a Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment biosecurity officer who will determine whether they are allowed into Australia.

Some products may require treatment to make them safe. Other goods may be restricted due to pest and disease risks.

See What can I bring or send to Australia?

When to mark ‘yes’ on your Incoming Passenger Card

You will be given an Incoming Passenger Card (IPC) before you arrive in Australia. You must comply with the requirement to provide this information. Giving false or misleading information is a serious offence.

You must mark ‘Yes’ if you are carrying certain food, plant material or animal products. You can take these declared goods with you to the clearance point where they will be inspected by a biosecurity officer.

Alternatively, you will have the opportunity to voluntarily dispose of any food, plant material or animal products in the bins at the terminal.

On arrival your baggage may also be inspected by a biosecurity officer, including by X–ray or detector dog.

If you fail to declare or dispose of any biosecurity risk goods, or make a false or misleading declaration on your Incoming Passenger Card, or provide false or misleading information to a biosecurity officer, you:

  • will be caught
  • may be given an infringement notice specifying a penalty amount of A$420
  • may be subject to civil penalty proceedings, and/or
  • may be prosecuted for a criminal offence. If convicted, you could face a maximum penalty of A$420,000 and/or be imprisoned for up to 10 years.

You will not be penalised under the Biosecurity Act 2015 if all goods are declared, even if they are not allowed into Australia.

What happens to goods you declare?

Goods will be inspected by a biosecurity officer who will determine the level of biosecurity risk associated with the goods. You may be required to provide information or documents to enable the biosecurity officer to determine the risk. In many cases goods you declare will be of low risk and will be returned to you after inspection. However, goods that may present an unacceptable level of biosecurity risk will be managed in accordance with the Biosecurity Act 2015. At any time during the inspection process you may voluntarily dispose of the goods in a bin at the terminal.

Depending on the risk, you can:

  • pay for the goods to be treated to reduce the biosecurity risk (for example fumigation, irradiation)
  • pay to export the goods from Australia, or
  • destroy the goods.

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment makes every effort to minimise the risk of damage caused as a result of treatment, but does not accept liability for any damage that may occur to your goods during treatment or export.

Why can’t I bring or send goods into Australia that are already available in Australia?

The goods you buy in Australia have been commercially produced and imported under strict biosecurity conditions. Similar goods that are homemade, traditionally produced or purchased overseas could carry biosecurity pest or disease risks and cannot be imported.

Why do I have to declare on my return to Australia goods that I took overseas with me?

It may be possible for pests and diseases to contaminate your goods while overseas. Biosecurity officers inspect certain articles arriving into Australia irrespective of where they originally came from.

Where do I go for more information on goods to declare?

For information about bringing or sending goods to Australia, visit Arriving in Australia - Declare it!

If you need more information on goods that need to be declared or that require an import permit, visit the Department of Agriculture Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).

BICON provides information about Australian biosecurity import conditions for foreign plant, animal, mineral and human commodities. It can be used to determine if a commodity intended for import to Australia needs an import permit and/or treatment or if there are any other biosecurity conditions.

The information available on BICON is the same information that biosecurity officers use when inspecting goods arriving in Australia. Import conditions within BICON are regularly reviewed, so please ensure you check the conditions each time you travel or send goods.

Can I take food or other goods from Australia through an airport to another country?

Each country has specific requirements as to goods that are allowed to be imported. The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment does not keep a record of other countries’ requirements. For further information you should contact the relevant country’s consulate or embassy in your nearest capital city.

Once I’ve cleared biosecurity at an airport, can I take food or other goods to another state within Australia?

Some states prohibit the entry of a range of goods from other parts of Australia.

See Travelling within Australia.

Why can it take so long to get through the airport?

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment organises its resources at international airports to match scheduled flight arrival patterns. However, a range of factors including airport infrastructure and baggage transfer arrangements can influence the time it takes for passengers to move through the baggage reclaim area and the inspection area.

For faster clearances through Australian airports, make sure you are not carrying any fresh fruit, vegetables, plants, seeds, and meat, animal or wood products. You should also ensure that your footwear, sporting and recreational equipment is dry and soil free—including golf clubs, bikes and prams.

Why do dogs work for the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment?

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment uses detector dogs as part of a range of tools to intercept biosecurity risk material at the border. Detector dog teams are highly mobile and can screen large volumes of arriving passengers, mail and cargo quickly and effectively.

See Detector dogs.

What will happen if there’s an outbreak of a disease in Australia?

Australia is well prepared to handle pest and disease outbreaks because of its excellent health system, well tested emergency response plans, past experience and international connections. The Government regularly assesses its ability to manage an outbreak through regular planning and exercises involving people at the highest levels of both government and industry. This allows for an informed approach to any complex and/or serious incident that may arise.

See National pests and disease outbreaks.

Why does the airline spray the aircraft during international flights to Australia?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), certain insects can act as transmitters or vectors of pathogens or parasites that are responsible for spreading a number of human diseases such as dengue fever, yellow fever, Ross River fever and malaria.

All aircraft arriving into Australia are required to undergo a process called disinsection. This process eliminates these vectors of concern (such as mosquitoes) from the cabin and holds of aircraft.

Preparations of chemicals currently used in aircraft disinsection are based on two active ingredients, permethrin and d–Phenothrin, currently recommended by WHO. The difference between permethrin and d–Phenothrin is principally one of residual effect; permethrin is a residual pyrethroid and d–Phenothrin a non-residual pyrethroid.

See Disinsection.

I want to buy something online from overseas, what do I need to know?

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment assess international mail items sent to Australia. Biosecurity requirements apply to goods ordered on the internet.

See Buying goods online from outside Australia.

What is the procedure and costs involved in importing my dog or cat to Australia?

Cats and dogs can be imported into Australia under strict conditions to manage biosecurity risks. The owner or importer must pay all fees associated with the import and quarantine accommodation.

See Bringing dogs, cats and other pets to Australia.

What is the procedure (including fumigation) for importing wooden goods to Australia (including wooden crates and packaging)?

Timber/wood may be imported in a highly processed state such as high quality furniture, picture frames, tool handles and composite wood material or as sawn timber or wood packaging (including dunnage). The latter represent a significant biosecurity risk if not properly treated.

See Importation of timber and timber products, or contact Timber Imports.

Why do we import goods that we produce here in Australia?

Australia exports almost two thirds of its agricultural produce and promotes fair and consistent trading rules for all countries around the world. We cannot expect trading partners to take our produce if we are not prepared to apply the same rules to their products.

If we import goods, doesn’t the risk of diseases and pests entering Australia increase?

The Australian Government takes a very conservative approach to biosecurity and through Government policy aims to reduce the risk to a very low level, but not to zero. It would not be practical for Australia to take a ‘zero risk’ approach, as it would mean no tourists, no international travel and no trade with other countries. Other countries could then apply the same policy and our products would not be accepted overseas.

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Last updated: 12 February 2020

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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.