Import Conditions

Case: Pet food, supplements and ingredients of plant origin Effective 01 Aug 2015 to 02 Aug 2015

1. Prior to the importation of goods into Australia, a valid import permit issued by the Department of Agriculture is required.
   

   An import permit may be obtained by submitting an import permit application to the department (if viewed online, use the 'Apply Now' button at the bottom of this page).
   

   You will need to provide a completed production questionnaire during the permit application, please ensure that this questionnaire is completed by the manufacturer of the product.
   

2. For additional information regarding the importation of pet food of plant origin, please see the Department of AgriculturePlant based animal feed information or contact the Import Services Team.

3. Pet food import permit applications are subject to a desk audit. Detailed information regarding the pet food manufacturing process and operating procedures is required to perform the desk audit.

4. All consignments must be free of live insects, soil, disease symptoms, contamination with prohibited seeds, other unprocessed plant material (e.g. leaf, stem material, fruit pulp, pod material, etc.), animal material (e.g. animal faeces, feathers, etc.) and any other extraneous contamination of quarantine concern.

5. Any packaging used with the consignment must be clean and new.

6. This product is not permitted for use as a feed for livestock or poultry.

7. If the conditions of import are met, each consignment may be subject to an inspection as specified in the permit conditions on arrival by a biosecurity officer to ensure that the product is packaged in clean and new packaging, free of live insects, soil, prohibited seeds, weed seeds, animal material and other biosecurity risk material.

8. Testing for restricted animal material (RAM) will be required in any of the following instances:

   1. The product is transported in bulk and the cleanliness of containers or ships holds before export cannot be guaranteed to the satisfaction of officers from the Department of Agriculture (the department) (e.g. through a pre-approved arrangement).
      

   2. The product is transported in bulk but, at inspection upon arrival, the cleanliness of containers/holds is not confirmed.
      

   3. The product is packaged but is packed in packages that are not clean and new.
      

   4. At inspection on arrival the integrity of packaging is found to be deficient.
      

   Consignments must be held in quarantine at an appropriate QAP until such time as all batches/lots have been verified free from RAM and the consignment has been released from quarantine by the department’s regional office.

9. 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.

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

Warnings and Information Notices


Containers, timber packing, pallets or dunnage associated with the consignment will be subject to inspection and treatment on arrival, unless certified as having been treated by a Department of Agriculture approved method.


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.