Food Import Compliance Agreements

Food importers can enter into a Food Import Compliance Agreement (FICA) with us. These agreements are made under section 35A of the Imported Food Control Act 1992.

Many food importers have documented food safety management systems for sourcing and importing safe food. Under a FICA, we recognise these systems as an alternative to the inspection and testing of food imports under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme.

Entering into a FICA allows you to:

  • manage the clearance of your own food imports
  • reduce your importing timeframes and costs.

You won’t have to book or pay for an imported food inspection under a FICA. Instead, we monitor your compliance with requirements by regularly auditing your system. You can choose to have all the food you import under a FICA or just certain types of food.

All goods imported into Australia must meet biosecurity requirements. This includes food imported under a FICA. Check the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).

Eligibility

You must have a documented food safety compliance system to manage your food imports. We won’t consider entering into an agreement without one.

Your compliance system must clearly identify the measures you have in place to ensure imported food is safe and compliant, and the people responsible for this. It should be based on:

Food safety compliance system

You will need to prepare your compliance system documentation and provide it with your FICA application.

What to include

Use the self-assessment checklist in the FICA application form. This ensures your system will cover all requirements. You need to show us that you have a documented compliance system in place that:

  • provides adequate and effective measures to ensure the food you import is safe and compliant
  • ensures responsibilities are allocated to personnel that have appropriate authority, skills and knowledge in food safety.

Your documented system should be clear and concise. Make sure you have an index of all documents included and that they are uniquely identified.

Assessment

When your application is received, we will conduct:

  • an assessment of your compliance system documentation
  • a suitability review to determine if you are trustworthy, able to comply with our requirements and capable of following agreed procedures
  • an assessment to check your history of compliance with the Imported Food Inspection Scheme and with other department areas, such as approved arrangements and export registration
  • a financial review to ensure there is no outstanding debt to the Commonwealth.

We then conduct a pre-approval audit of your compliance system at your head office and nominated primary warehouse. We do this to verify that your documented system:

  • can be effectively implemented
  • satisfactorily addresses the requirements for a FICA.

We expect that the assessment process will be completed within a 12-month period. Delays in responding to requests from the department for further documentation or information, that lead to assessment exceeding 12-months from receipt of your FICA application, will result in cancellation of the assessment of the application.

Find out more about how we conduct audits.

How to apply

Complete the FICA application form. To ensure that your application reflects your current compliance system, applications exceeding 12-months will require a new FICA application. Refer to our requirements for guidance on preparing your documentation and what to include.

Download form

Application to enter into a food import compliance agreement (PDF 429 KB)

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

Fees

When you apply for a FICA you will have to pay for:

  • an application levy (only if you do not have an existing approved arrangement with the department).
  • an assessment for us to determine if you are suitable to enter into a FICA.

An annual fee is payable once a FICA comes into effect. To find out more see our charging guidelines.

Entering into a FICA

If you’re successful, you can enter into a compliance agreement with us. It starts when both parties sign the agreement and you pay the annual fee.

Download sample agreement

Food Import Compliance Agreement (PDF 285 KB)
Food Import Compliance Agreement (DOCX 332 KB)

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Audits

We audit FICA holders to ensure you continue to comply with your agreement. How often we audit you depends on your compliance.

Find out more about how we conduct audits.

Notifying us of changes

Use the FICA notification form to tell us if you:

  • detect non-compliant food or initiate a food recall
  • change your authorised personnel or senior management
  • change your compliance system
  • change your FICA warehouse register
  • change your direct delivery arrangements
  • become insolvent.

Download notification form

Download the form to your computer, complete all required details and click on the Submit button in the form to email it to us.

To save a copy for your records or to complete later, click on the Save button in the form.

Food import compliance agreement notification (PDF 407 KB)

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Current agreements

Listed are some of the importers who are operating under a FICA.

Contact us

Email fica@aff.gov.au

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern