Holding orders for imported food

We apply and publish holding orders for imported food that:

• has failed inspection or there are reasonable grounds for believing the food would fail
• there are reasonable grounds for believing the food poses a serious risk to human health.

Holding orders are administrative instruments issued under the Imported Food Control Act 1992.

Holding orders ensure future consignments (same product, producer and country of origin) of a food are referred for inspection to verify compliance and safety.

Holding orders for failing food

We apply a holding order for imported food:

• that has failed inspection. See failing food reports.
• if there are reasonable grounds for believing the food would fail an inspection.

We ensure future consignments of this food are inspected under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS).

Holding orders apply until the basis for the holding order no longer applies or when there have been 5 consecutive passes demonstrating a history of compliance.

Monthly holding orders

This table shows holding orders we’ve applied each month, for the current year.

See orders for previous years.

Revocations for failing food

We revoke holding orders on failing food when the circumstances specified for revocation have been met.

Monthly revocations

This table shows revocations we’ve applied each month, for the current year.

See orders for previous years.

Holding orders for food that poses a serious risk to human health

We can apply holding orders to an imported food on the basis there are reasonable grounds for believing the food may pose a serious risk to human health. This holding order is active for 28 days and can be extended until we receive assurances from the exporting country that future imports are safe.

There are currently no active holding orders for food that poses a serious risk to human health.