Import Conditions

Case: Pelted wheat for human consumption Effective 08 Jan 2016 to 07 Feb 2016

1. A Department of Agriculture import permit is not required.

2. Material must be inspected for the presence of live insects, contamination with soil and prohibited seeds and to verify that the grain has been dehulled, pearled and polished.
   

   If live insects and/or contamination with prohibited seed or soil is suspected, the goods must be treated by a Department approved method.

3. If any doubt exists over whether the wheat has been pearled or polished to render the seed non-viable, the goods are to be either:
   

   1. seized for destruction or export, or
      

   2. samples are to be subjected to a germination test by a Department approved seed laboratory at the importer's expense.
      

   Provided the results indicate that the grain is non-viable the product may be released from quarantine. If the results indicate that the grain is viable the product is to be either exported or destroyed at the importer's expense.

4. Once biosecurity requirements have been met, it is the importer's responsibility to ensure that all imported food complies with the Imported Food Control Act 1992.

Warnings and Information Notices


The standards for labelling and composition of all food sold in Australia are set down in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.


It is the responsibility of the importer to comply with the Act and ensure imported food meets the requirements of the Food Standards Code and any other relevant Australian standards or requirements.


The Department of Agriculture monitors food safety hazards and compliance with the Food Standards Code by means of the Imported Food Inspection Scheme. The website provides information on how food is referred to the scheme.


Under the scheme the food may be held for inspection and testing. The inspection will involve a visual and label assessment and may also include sampling the food for testing.


All imported food is considered 'surveillance'. The tests that apply to surveillance food are detailed in Tests applied to surveillance food.


5. Under the Quarantine Service Fees Determination 2005, fees are payable to the Department of Agriculture for all services. A list of all quarantine & export fees is available on the Department of Agriculture's website.

6. Non-commodity information requirements for imported cargo also apply, please refer to the BICON case Non-Commodity Cargo Clearance.

Warnings and Information Notices


Timber packaging, pallets or dunnage associated with the consignment may be subject to inspection and treatment on arrival, unless sufficient evidence of a Department of Agriculture approved treatment is provided.


All documentation presented to the department to assist in determining the level of biosecurity risk posed by transportation pathways and packaging must also meet the requirements of the non-commodity case.