Who does this notice affect?

Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries — including imported food stakeholders, customs brokers, freight forwarders, vessel masters, biosecurity industry participants and shipping agents

What has changed?

The department has completed its comprehensive review of the biosecurity cost recovery arrangement. The outcome proposes changes to existing regulatory charging to align fees and charges with the cost to deliver biosecurity and imported food activities.

15 June 2023

Purpose

This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise industry and authorised officers of future updates to the Guideline: Inspection of empty bulk vessels for export, Work Instruction: Inspecting empty bulk vessels for export and the Guideline: Supporting documents for plant exports.

14 June 2023

Purpose

This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise that an additional amendment is being proposed to the Export Control (Plant and Plant Products) Rules 2021 (Plant Rules) and is expected to commence in August 2023, subject to the amendments being made by the Secretary.

The information and links on this page give you access to the latest advice from key agencies about Hendra virus.

Current situation

Since 1994, Hendra virus (HeV) has been the cause of death in over 100 horses. Most cases have been the result of spillover infection from flying-foxes. Others have been the result of direct transmission from infected horses. To date, all cases have occurred in Queensland (Qld) and New South Wales (NSW).

What is eCert?

eCert allows importing and exporting government agencies to exchange government certificates electronically. It works via a secure and encrypted data exchange.

We use eCert to exchange:

• phytosanitary certificates for plant and plant-related products
• sanitary certificates (also known as health and/or veterinary certificates) for animal and animal-related products.

These electronic certificates (eCerts) contain the same information as a paper government certificate.