Biosecurity is border-risk law for goods and conveyances. A product can be commercially harmless to customers but still unacceptable at the border because of pests, disease, soil, timber packaging, contamination or missing documents.
Main laws
Commonwealth Act
Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cth)
The Biosecurity Act affects import conditions, inspections, treatment, movement controls and shipment delays.
In forceCommonwealthPlain-English guide5 practical checks
Plain-English explainers, not legal advice. Check the linked official source before you rely on a specific section, and get advice for your situation.
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Quick read
- Biosecurity law matters when products, packaging, containers or conveyances can carry pests, disease or contamination risk.
- For small businesses, the practical issue is whether a shipment needs permits, treatment, inspection, documents or a contingency plan if it is directed, held or destroyed.
Likely relevant if
- Importers bringing goods, plants, animals, food, timber or biological materials into Australia
- Freight, logistics, customs broker and ecommerce fulfilment businesses
- Nurseries, pet, agriculture, food and natural-product businesses
Check first
- Check import conditions, permits and document requirements before shipping goods.
- Follow biosecurity officer directions about inspection, movement, treatment, export or destruction.
- Keep supplier, treatment, packing, origin and product-composition records.
Start here
Key points
- Check import conditions before ordering, not when goods arrive.
- Keep supplier documents, treatment certificates and packing details.
- Plan who will answer questions if a biosecurity officer asks for information.
- Price the risk of treatment, delay, destruction or re-export into the deal.
Common trigger points
Key points
- Wooden packaging, pallets, soil, seeds, plants or animal-derived materials.
- Food, pet, garden, agriculture or natural-product imports.
- Containers that may need inspection, cleaning or treatment.
- Goods advertised as organic, raw, untreated, handmade or directly sourced.
Plain-English glossary
- Biosecurity risk
- Risk connected with pests, diseases, contamination or other matters managed under the Act.
- Biosecurity control order
- An order used to manage unacceptable biosecurity risk in relation to goods, premises or conveyances.
- Biosecurity measure
- A measure such as inspection, treatment, movement control, export or destruction used to manage risk.
Common questions
Is this only for farms?
No. Importers, ecommerce sellers, nurseries, pet businesses, food businesses and freight operators can all run into biosecurity controls.
What makes a small shipment risky?
The product, origin country, packaging, contamination risk, treatment history and documents can matter more than shipment size.
Can a supplier promise solve this?
No. Supplier promises help, but the Australian importer still needs records, import-condition checks and a plan for directions or inspection.