We monitor and test food imported into Australia under our Imported Food Inspection Scheme. We check that all imports of food intended for sale comply with Australian food standards and requirements for safety.

You can seek a review of certain decisions under the Imported Food Control Act 1992. The decisions that can be reconsidered are listed in subsection 42(2) of the Act.

Contact the Food Safety Manager in your state or territory about your concerns with the initial decision outcome, before submitting an application for a review. Contact details are included in the Imported Food Inspection Advice you received.

Imported food intended for sale is inspected and tested under our Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS).

Most food imported from New Zealand is not referred for inspection or testing. New Zealand and Australia have joint food standards allowing food to be imported between the countries without border inspection.

We provide reports of inspection data and surveys on imported foods.

Imported food inspection data

We refer imported foods for inspection and testing under our Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS).

We publish summary data about our imported food inspections.

Imported food can be referred for testing under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS).

How it works

We issue you with an initial Food Control Certificate (FCC) that sets out what:

All food sold in Australia must be safe and meet Australia’s food standards.

Foods covered by recognised foreign government and food safety management certificates provide assurance that food safety risks are being managed. 

Mandatory foreign government certificates

Some foods classified as risk require a recognised foreign government certificate to be imported into Australia.

We audit your activity conducted under a Food Import Compliance Agreement (FICA). Audits assess that you are meeting the conditions of your FICA.

​​​The Imported Food Consultative Committee (IFCC) is the principal consultative committee for the department and the food and beverage importing industries to consider practical and strategic food related issues. The aim of the IFCC is to provide the department and industry with a consultative forum to ensure that effective food safety and compliance outcomes are delivered without unnecessary impediments to trade by facilitating efficient and effective imported food regulation.