2 October 2025
This Biosecurity Advice advises stakeholders of the release of the final report for the import risk review for Importation of live garden snails (Cornu aspersum) for heliciculture.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has conducted a review of the biosecurity risks of importing live C. aspersum snails into Australia, for heliciculture (snail farming).
We conducted this review in response to requests from members of the public with specific commercial interests in developing breeding lines of snails to expand the Australian heliciculture industry.
The review considered current scientific information, international standards developed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), the assessment undertaken by the Department of Climate Change, Energy the Environment and Water to add C. aspersum to the List of Specimens Taken to be Suitable for Live Import, and relevant importation policies adopted by other countries.
The review identified pests and diseases of biosecurity concern for this commodity. We have undertaken risk assessments of these pests and diseases.
To achieve Australia’s Appropriate Level of Protection (ALOP), imported snails must be:
- from approved countries
- accompanied by official veterinary health certification
- sourced from approved commercial operations with appropriate food safety and hygiene standards
- There are then separate protocols for adult snails and for hatchling snails, addressing both species verification and biosecurity requirements.
A draft report was released on 07 August 2024 and was followed by a 60-day comment period during which a range of stakeholders submitted comments on the proposal to import live garden snails. Submissions were reviewed by the department, and the outcomes of the consultation process have substantially strengthened the final report.
A webinar was held on 29 September 2025 with industry stakeholders to discuss the release of the final report.
Following the release of the final report, import conditions will be developed and published on Australia’s Biosecurity Import Conditions website (BICON). Register in BICON to receive an alert when the import conditions are published.
Subscribe to Biosecurity Risk Analysis Animal at subscribe.agriculture.gov.au/subscribe to receive biosecurity advice notices and other notifications about animal biosecurity policy and risk analyses.
Dr Rochelle Prattley
A/g Assistant Secretary
Animal Biosecurity
Email: animalbiosecurity@aff.gov.au