Improving access to imported food safety requirements
From mid-2025 imported food safety requirements will be incorporated into 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.
Peanuts and peanut products, and pistachio and pistachio products are classified as risk food
This includes peanuts and pistachios that are:
- shelled or without shell
- raw
- blanched
- roasted, or
- processed by physical means, such as crushed or ground.
This also includes food containing more than 300 g per kg (30%) peanuts and/or pistachios, such as:
- bakery goods
- chocolate
- coated nuts
- confectionery
- flour
- mixed nuts
- pastes (for example, peanut butter and pistachio paste)
- sauces containing peanut (for example, peanut or satay)
- snacks.
Exclusions
- All nuts and nut products other than peanut and pistachio.
- Peanut oil or pistachio oil.
- Food from New Zealand.
Community Protection (CP) question
You may need to answer this CP question when lodging your full import declaration:
IFIS: Do the goods contain more than 30% peanuts or pistachios or more than 30% peanut products or pistachio products? (Answer 'no' to this question if the goods are only peanut oil or pistachio oil).
Inspection and testing
We refer consignments of peanuts and peanut products, pistachios, and pistachio products 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 |
|---|---|
| Aflatoxin | Maximum level 0.015 mg/kg |
| Aflatoxin (for mixed food containing greater than 30% peanuts and/or pistachio) | Maximum level 0.015 mg/kg x % of nut in product. For example, if a mixed food contains 50% peanut and/or pistachio, the maximum level is 0.0075 mg/kg (0.015 mg/kg x 50% = 0.0075 mg/kg). |
Food safety risks
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has given us advice that peanut and peanut products, pistachios and pistachio products present a potential medium or high risk to public health for aflatoxin.
Version history
| Date | Reference number | Amendment details |
|---|---|---|
| 16/11/2018 | NUT 11/2018 | Amended to consolidate webpages for peanuts and pistachios, and food that contains more than 30% peanuts and pistachios as an ingredient. |
| 5/10/2016 | NUT 10/2016 | Amended to include peanut sauce or satay sauce containing peanuts |
| 01/05/2014 | NUT 05/2014 | Replaces Imported Food Notice 09/12 Tests applied to risk category food |