Skip to Content

Case Glossary

Search Import Questions Import Conditions Onshore Outcomes

Case: Live animals and their reproductive material for laboratory use Effective 06 Oct 2023 to 28 Nov 2023

Glossary

The following provides a definition of words or phrases that are found within the text. Some of these have a special meaning in relation to the importation or treatment of goods entering Australia and may be important to understand in meeting the requirements for import.

Term Definition
Approved Arrangement Site (AA Site)

An arrangement approved under Section 406 of the Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cwlth) which permits a biosecurity industry participant to carry out specified activities to manage biosecurity risks associated with particular goods, premises or other things.
colony

For live animals: Colony means the entire group of animals that is in contact with the animals to be exported.

For animal reproductive material: Colony means the entire group of animals that is in contact with each donor.
disease agent

Disease agent includes but is not limited to:

  • Microorganism

  • Parasite

  • Virus

  • Prion

  • Plasmid

  • Viroid

donor

The term ‘donors’ refers to donors of all reproductive material including the donors of the semen, ova and the embryos.
donors

See donor
goods

Goods include:

  1. An animal
  2. A plant
  3. A sample or specimen of a disease agent
  4. A pest
  5. Mail; and
  6. Any other article substance or thing.

Goods does not include ballast water or human remains. It also does not include a conveyance, except in certain circumstances.
import permit application

The department will assess the application and on the basis of that assessment may decide to grant an import permit subject to any conditions deemed necessary for safe importation, use and disposal of those products.

It should be noted that applying for an import permit does not automatically result in an import permit being issued. The Director of biosecurity or their delegate issues the import permit. You should ensure that an application is submitted for each product type and that the prescribed fee accompanies the import permit application.
in contact

In contact animals are those that share airspace, handlers and equipment and are not separated by air filters or any similar physical barrier.
infectious agent

Infectious agent includes any of the following:

1. a virus;

2. a prion;

3. a plasmid;

4. a viroid;

5. a thing that is a part of an infectious agent.

Examples: For the purposes of point 5, capsids, envelopes, enzymes, genetic material coding for an infectious agent, proteins.

official veterinarian

An "official veterinarian" means a veterinarian that has been authorised by the veterinary authority of the exporting country, to perform certain official tasks associated with animal health and/or public health, inspections of commodities and, when appropriate, to certify to conformity with the certification procedures of the trade measures, import/export procedures and veterinary certification chapter of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Sentinels were tested

Sentinel testing is generally used where immunocompromised animals are involved or animals are otherwise unsuited to be tested directly.
vial

Ampoules, straws or vials.
vials

See vial