Alerts

The Animal and Biological Imports Branch (ABIB) is taking a more flexible approach when assigning validity periods to import permits for pet food, including pet food treats. The decision regarding the permit validity period for these goods will form another outcome of the biosecurity risk assessment process.

Who does this alert affect:
Importers of pet food, including pet food treats.

Background:
Historically, the ABIB has issued most permits for these goods with a 2 year validity period.

ABIB has continued the review of business practices relating to permit validity periods. A more flexible approach is now being adopted for pet food products with permits potentially being issued that are active for shorter or longer periods.

ABIB biosecurity officers will take the following criteria into consideration when assigning a validity period to a particular permit:

• Has the applicant presented evidence of a history of compliant importation and safe use of a particular product in Australia?
• Is there a level of certainty that conditions of manufacture related to biosecurity risk will not change over time e.g. a static list of ingredients of biological origin included in products exported to Australia?
• Does the overseas manufacturer operate using systems of quality which ensure that a safe product is reliably produced and exported to the Australian market?

If a favourable assessment is made for all these criteria, then it is possible that permits will be issued for specific goods with a validity period that is longer than 2 years.

Please note: Levels of variability associated with production systems for many dry, semi-moist pet food products (i.e. pet food kibbles) means that the ABIB will maintain the standard practice of assigning 2 year validity periods to permits for these goods.

This modified ABIB assessment process has commenced and will be applied to permit applications received from 20 November 2020.

Further information:
Contact the Animal and Biological Imports Branch through the department’s Client Contact Group in Canberra on 1800 900 090 or imports@agriculture.gov.au.