Alerts

The Animal and Biological Imports Branch (ABIB) has commenced a trial which will, for a temporary period, allow Australian importers to nominate third-party audit (TPA) service providers to undertake biosecurity audits on their behalf.

Background:
The department’s biosecurity policies require audits of offshore facilities, which are producing live veterinary vaccines and certain pet foods for the Australian market, as part of the import permit application risk assessment.

Currently, these biosecurity audits are performed by trained ABIB biosecurity officers.

ABIB has developed Guidelines for Engaging Third-Party Audit Service Providers and other supporting documents that will facilitate the engagement of TPA service providers by Australian importers.

As part of the trial, Australian importers can nominate a TPA service provider to the department to undertake a biosecurity audit, in lieu of that performed by ABIB biosecurity officers.

The nominated TPA service provider will undergo an assessment by ABIB biosecurity officers for competence, impartiality, and confidentiality. The service provider will also need to satisfy the department’s accreditation standards.

Australian importers will still need to submit an import permit application and the department will still conduct desktop audits for each offshore manufacturer before consideration can be given to engaging TPA service providers.

Manufacturers that have not previously exported goods to Australia will not be eligible for inclusion in the TPA service provider trial. These manufacturers will be audited by ABIB biosecurity officers.

More information on the terms of engagement of TPA service providers can be found on the department’s website.

ABIB will perform an assessment of the effectiveness of the TPA trial at the end of the trial period. Adoption of the TPA service provider scheme as an ongoing arrangement will be dependent on deliver of satisfactory outcomes for all trial audits.

Who does this alert affect:
Australian importers of live veterinary vaccines and Australian importers of certain pet foods.

Further information:
Please contact the Animal and Biological Imports Branch on 1800 900 090 (prompt 1, then prompt 1) or email imports@aff.gov.au.