The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) has issued notice to importers of plant, animal and biological goods and customs brokers, that the Goods Determinations under subsection 174(1) of the Biosecurity Act 2015 are currently being amended. The majority of changes will apply from 21 December 2017. (The exception is conditions applying to fresh cut flowers and foliage, which will not take effect until 1 March 2018.)
Some goods can only be brought into Australia and its territories with an import permit. However, where it is safe to do so, importers are permitted to bring certain goods in without a permit if they meet alternative conditions for import.
From 21 December 2017 selected commodities will no longer require an import permit when alternative conditions in the Goods Determinations are met. These include:
- Cats and dogs from Norfolk Island
- Rabbits from New Zealand
- Natural or cultured pearls
- Pet fish food
- Marine molluscs (other than oysters and snails)
- Unprocessed cotton
- Unprocessed straw articles and products
The Goods Determination will also be amended to include changes to the alternative conditions that must be met for the following goods:
- Soil and goods containing soil
- Water and goods containing water
- Animal trophies, artefacts and handicraft items
- Bones, horns, antlers, tusks or teeth
- Rawhide
- Used horse equipment
For the full list of goods affected, CLICK HERE
DAWR says it is important to note that the updated conditions continue to manage the biosecurity risk associated with these goods, continue to meet Australia’s Appropriate Level of protection, and reduce the level of regulatory burden for importers of these goods where appropriate. All goods entering Australia must continue to meet the import conditions published in BICON (the department’s biosecurity import conditions database).
