Changes

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has updated the standard import conditions for Purified laboratory reagents, toxins and venoms to clarify conditions and reduce regulatory burden on importers.

The department has recently undertaken a review of import conditions for these goods, which indicated that the biosecurity risks of products which can meet the standard import conditions can be managed for in vivo research in plants. The standard import conditions now include in vivo use in plants as a permitted end use.

The standard permit conditions have also been updated to allow for goods which are composite products containing Purified laboratory reagents, toxins and venoms, Approved biological ingredients, Highly refined organic chemicals and substances, and/or synthetic material (excluding genetic material).

Existing import conditions have been clarified, including the requirement for the goods to not be antibodies (including antibodies raised against recombinant proteins). Antibodies may be imported under the BICON Case for Purified antibodies.

Who does this notice affect:
Importers and brokers of purified laboratory reagents, toxins and venoms, and department staff.

Import permits:
Existing import permits will not be affected. However, permit holders may contact the department to arrange for variation of import permits if they would like to use the new import conditions.

For more information on standard import permits, please visit the department’s webpage for Standard permits for biological products.

Further information:
For enquiries regarding the addition of in vivo use in plants as an approved end use, please contact Plant Import Operations on 1800 900 090 or email imports@aff.gov.au.

For all other enquiries regarding this change, please contact the Laboratory and Human Tissues team on 1800 900 090 or imports@aff.gov.au.