Alerts

A review has been completed for the Culture media BICON case which will result in changes to import conditions.

The revised case is expected to be published in BICON on 2 September 2019.

Who does this notice affect:
Importers of Culture media, Assessment Services Group and Inspections Group.

Background:
The pathways (questions and answers) in the new BICON case for this commodity type will be streamlined and simplified. The new case will ask users to select one of the following options:

• media that contains no greater than 20 mL or 20 g of animal derived material per individual unit
  

• prepared media (incl. pre-poured plates, swabs, vials etc.) no greater than 50 mL or 50 g for each individual unit
  

• other.
  

Importers of culture media containing no ingredients of biological origin will be re-directed to the BICON case Synthetic material.

Standard permits have been updated

1. Prepared culture media including pre-poured plates, swabs and vials.
   

   • Conditions have been added to the permit case to clarify the goods that can be imported under this case e.g. that goods are pre-packaged for retail sale and contain no greater than 50 mL or 50 g for each individually packaged unit.
     

   • The volume restriction has been increased to align with industry standards for these goods.
     

   • There will be a requirement that evidence is provided to demonstrate that the goods imported meet the conditions of the case. This will also facilitate clearance of goods.
     

2. Culture media containing no greater than 20 mL or 20 g animal derived material.
   

   • The import conditions will be amended to exclude fruit as an ingredient.
     

Other
Addition of a product questionnaire to the ‘Other’ pathway to provide importers with the information needed to be provided with an application for a non-standard permit.
It is noted that some importers have developed their own documentation templates for providing this information. Those documents will be able to be uploaded in place of the questionnaire.

Further information:
Contact the Import Conditions Review team on 1800 900 090 (prompt 1, then prompt 1 and ask for the ABIB Business and Reform section) or email at ABIBBusinessandReform@agriculture.gov.au.