Background

Northern Australia’s vast, sparsely populated 10,000-kilometre coastline is the frontline for many high-risk animal and plant pests and diseases.

Biosecurity risks can reach Australia through the movement of people and goods by sea and air, through traditional visits between Papua New Guinea and Torres Strait, and by natural pathways such as wind, tide and animal migration. Some serious pests and diseases are being managed in Torres Strait that have not reached the Australian mainland.

Publication details

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, last updated July 2024

To become an approved manufacturer of official marks with the department, you will need to complete an EX91 ‘Application for Approval to Manufacture Official Marks and Official Marking Devices’ form and produce a Code of Practice that details how you will meet the specific requirements to produce these marks. The Code of Practice guideline provides specific information on the requirements surrounding security, approvals, ordering and others.

Date of issue: 17 August 2021

Date of effect: Immediate

Reference Number: MAA2021-10

Date of issue: 17 August 2021

Date of effect: Immediate

Reference Number: MAA2021-33

Date of issue: 17 August 2021

Date of effect: Immediate

Reference Number: MAA2021-33

On Monday 9 August 2021 we held an online information session to help interested parties understand the application process for Drought Resilience Innovation Grants. You can watch the session here, or download the transcript below.

Future Drought Fund: Drought Resilience Innovation Grants opportunity

16 August 2021

Who does this notice affect?

All clients required to use the department’s Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) system during this planned maintenance period.

Information

Due to scheduled infrastructure maintenance, BICON users may experience several intermittent outages from 23:00 Friday 20 August to 01:00 Saturday 21 August 2021 (AEST).

Action

Users are advised to frequently save any in-progress permit applications during this maintenance period.

16 August 2021

Who does this notice affect?

All importers and customs brokers who will be required to lodge imported cargo documentation to the department for biosecurity assessment during this planned maintenance period.

All shipping agents or operators of maritime conveyances who will be required to report pre-arrival information during this planned maintenance period.

All clients who will be required to make an online payment during this planned maintenance period.

​​Publication details

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, August 2021

This policy seeks to ensure the efficient deployment of departmental FSMAs in a manner enabling inspection activities to be undertaken consistent with the Australian Standard for the Hygienic Production and Transportation of Meat and Meat Products for Human
Consumption (AS 4696).

16 August 2021

Who does this notice affect?

Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including vessel masters, freight forwarders, treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers, and principal agents— associated with importing goods that require increased intervention during the 2021-22 BMSB risk season.