Improving access to imported food safety requirements
Imported food safety requirements are now included in the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).
See more about the Inclusion of food safety requirements in BICON.
All biosecurity requirements must be met before Imported Food Inspection Scheme requirements apply.
Check our Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) for biosecurity import conditions.
We classify imported food that presents a potential medium or high risk to public health as risk food. All risk food is listed in the Imported Food Control Order 2019.
Cassava chips that are ready-to-eat are classified as risk food
Includes these products that are packaged and ready-to-eat:
- cassava chips, cassava crisps, or cassava crackers
- vegetable crackers made from cassava
Cassava is also known as tapioca, manioc, mandioca, aipim or yuca.
Exclusions
- Raw cassava.
- Cassava pellets or cassava chips that are for further processing.
- Mixed foods that contain cassava chips, crisps or crackers.
Community Protection (CP) question
You will need to answer this CP question when lodging your full import declaration:
IFIS: Are the goods ready-to-eat cassava chips, cassava crisps, cassava crackers or vegetable crackers made from cassava? (Cassava is also known as tapioca, manioc, mandioca, aipim or yuca).
Inspection and testing
We refer consignments of ready-to-eat cassava chips for analytical testing. During inspection, we will also conduct a visual and label assessment.
Table 1 shows the test that will be applied and permitted result.
Table 1, Test applied and permitted result
| Test applied | Permitted result |
|---|---|
| Hydrocyanic acid | Maximum level 10 mg/kg |
Food safety risks
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has given us advice about the risk of ready-to-eat cassava chips. These products present a potential medium or high risk to public health for hydrocyanic acid.
Glossary
Ready-to-eat
Food is ready-to-eat if it is ordinarily consumed in the same state as that in which it is sold.
To avoid doubt, food is not ordinarily consumed in the same state as that in which it is sold if, before it is consumed, it requires further processing (such as cooking) to reduce any pathogenic microorganisms potentially present in the food to safe levels.
Version history
| Date | Amendment details |
|---|---|
| 10/09/2025 | Clarification on the types of cassava products classified as risk food and cassava products which are excluded. Amendment to CP question. |
| 07/09/2016 | Amendment to advise that sweet cassava is also known as tapioca, manioc, mandioca, aipim or yuca |
| 01/05/2014 | Replaces Imported Food Notice 09/12 Tests applied to risk category foods |