| Welcome to the Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) Biosecurity Report, your one-stop update on the latest operational issues and notices issued by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). This report is designed to keep you informed and prepared to manage biosecurity compliance effectively in an ever-changing landscape.
This Week in Biosecurity
The Department has advised industry of a range of current and upcoming biosecurity and regulatory developments, including the release of the Draft Khapra Beetle Pest Risk Analysis (Part 1) for public consultation. In addition, the Department has flagged several related updates of relevance to importers, exporters and service providers, including changes to imported food inspection and testing requirements, proposed cost recovery arrangements for 2026–27, reminders regarding biosecurity system outage notifications, and upcoming engagement opportunities such as industry webinars. Further updates include the international capacity-building activities, reflecting Australia's ongoing focus on strengthening offshore biosecurity capability and reducing biosecurity risk at source.
We hope you enjoy this week's report.
Summary - Khapra Beetle Pest Risk Analysis – Draft Part 1 Open for Consultation
Import Industry Advice Notice 15-2026 has been released, launching public consultation on the Draft Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) for Khapra Beetle (Trogoderma granarium) – Part 1, which focuses on plant product pathways.
The consultation is open until 27 February 2026, with two online information sessions scheduled for 5 February 2026 (10:30am and 4:30pm AEDT) to provide an overview of the draft report. Register via this link.
The PRA aims to assess khapra beetle risk, evaluate the effectiveness of current emergency (urgent action) measures, and recommend ongoing controls to meet Australia's Appropriate Level of Protection (ALOP).
Existing khapra beetle emergency measures for plant products will remain in place until Part 1 is finalised, with updated import conditions to follow. A separate Part 2, addressing the sea container pathway, will be released at a later date. Stakeholder feedback on Part 1 is being sought via Have Your Say, with the final report expected in late 2026. - Biosecurity Business Pledge Australia Webinar
The Department has advised of an upcoming webinar supporting the Biosecurity Business Pledge Australia, a joint initiative between the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and Biosecurity Tasmania aimed at strengthening biosecurity practices across Australian supply chains.
The pledge encourages businesses to proactively manage biosecurity risks by embedding practical prevention measures into everyday operations, helping reduce the likelihood of pest, weed and disease incursions while supporting business continuity and supply chain resilience. Participation is free and provides access to guidance, tools and resources, while enabling businesses to visibly demonstrate their commitment to biosecurity to customers and stakeholders.
The webinar, "Navigating biosecurity: a case study in biosecurity incident response", will be held on Thursday 12 February 2026 from 2:00pm to 2:45pm AEDT. Register to attend the webinar HERE.
The session will feature a keynote address from Chris Ipkendanz, Assistant Secretary, Crisis and Emergency Management at DAFF, and will provide practical insight into how biosecurity incidents are managed, including reporting, tracing, treatment and surveillance, and the role industry plays in supporting effective outcomes. - Cost Recovery Implementation Statements (CRIS) Consultation 2026–27
DAFF has opened a public consultation on draft Cost Recovery Implementation Statements (CRIS) for the 2026–27 financial year, with submissions open until 6 March 2026.
The draft CRIS and supporting explanatory material outline the department's cost recovery activities, proposed fee and charge structures, and the methodology used to calculate costs. The consultation provides stakeholders with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed arrangements to ensure transparency, sustainability, and alignment with industry needs.
Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on: - the structure and level of fees and charges across each cost recovery arrangement;
- proposed adjustments to existing fees and charges;
- the rationale for activities moving into cost recovery; and
- the potential impact of proposed changes on industry.
The Department notes its obligation under the Australian Government Charging Framework to recover the minimum necessary cost of delivering effective regulatory services. It has highlighted that a gap between the cost of delivering export regulatory services and revenue raised has existed for 16 of the past 20 years, driven in part by increased complexity in trading partner requirements and inflationary pressures.
New CRIS for export regulatory functions are proposed to commence from 1 July 2026, aimed at ensuring export regulatory services are sustainably funded and continue to support Australian trade. Further information and consultation details are available via the Department's Have Your Say portal and the Export cost recovery reform for sustainable trade funding page. - Imported Food Notices 02-26 & 03-26 – New Risk Food Classifications
The Department has issued Imported Food Notices (IFN) 02-26 and 03-26, advising importers and customs brokers of changes to inspection and testing requirements under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme, following amendments to the Imported Food
Control Order 2019.
IFN 02-26 (effective from 2 March 2026): - Fresh enoki mushrooms and kava products from New Zealand will be classified as risk food.
- Enoki mushrooms will be subject to 100% inspection and testing for Listeria monocytogenes until a compliance history is established, with mandatory label checks confirming cooking and refrigeration requirements.
- Kava products from New Zealand will also undergo 100% at-border inspection until a compliance history is established.
IFN 03-26 (effective from March 2027): - Fresh whole melons and ready-to-eat melons (fresh or frozen) will be classified as risk food.
- A recognised Food Safety Management Certificate (FSMC) will be mandatory for all melon imports, with certificate validity checked for every consignment.
- Melons will be subject to 5% residue testing, along with visual and label assessment.
Importers are encouraged to review supply chains early, noting a 12-month transition period applies for melons to allow time to source compliant suppliers. Further information is available on the department's Imported Food Notices webpage. - Reminder: Changes to Biosecurity Import System Outage Notifications
DAFF has reminded industry that biosecurity import system IT outage notices are no longer issued as Import Industry Advice Notices (IIANs). Since 12 December 2025, all biosecurity import system outage updates have been published as "System notifications" on the department's website. A transition period ran until 31 January 2026, during which subscribers received duplicate emails via both IIANs and System notifications.
From 1 February 2026, outage notices will only be sent to subscribers of "Import system notifications". Industry participants who rely on DAFF import-related IT systems (including cargo, conveyances and inspection bookings) must ensure they are subscribed to this new option to continue receiving outage alerts.
Action required: Subscribe via the DAFF website under Import News ? Import system notifications. - Vietnam Engagement Strengthens Offshore Biosecurity Capability
The Department has continued to strengthen offshore biosecurity capability through a series of international capacity-building activities delivered in Vietnam in late 2025. Supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) under the Southeast Asia and Australia Government Partnerships program, the initiative reinforced the shared Australia–Vietnam commitment to strong biosecurity systems, safe agricultural trade, and regulatory cooperation.
In November, DAFF's International Capacity Development team partnered with Vietnam's Plant Production and Protection Department and CABI to deliver a technical workshop in Hanoi focused on National Pest Surveillance Information Systems. The workshop explored practical approaches to planning and coordinating national and regional plant pest surveillance, supporting accurate pest status reporting in line with international standards. The sessions enabled both countries to share experiences, address challenges, and build confidence in surveillance information management tools.
In early December, DAFF's Compliance Partnerships Program delivered a two-week fumigation training, compliance verification, and technical mentoring program in collaboration with Vietnam's Plant Production and Protection Department under the Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme (AFAS). The program strengthened regulatory capability, supported consistent application of Australia's biosecurity requirements, and included targeted methyl bromide fumigation training alongside a train-the-trainer component to build sustainable in-country expertise.
While in Vietnam, DAFF officials also conducted the annual AFAS joint system review. All participating companies were found to be compliant, demonstrating the effectiveness of the review framework and the value of ongoing training and engagement. Read more HERE. - ABARES Outlook 2026 – Reminder
Preparations are underway for ABARES Outlook 2026, Australia's flagship forum on the future of agriculture, fisheries and forestry, to be held 3–4 March 2026 in Canberra and online. Hosted by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, the conference will bring together industry leaders, policymakers and experts to explore the theme "Reset. Rethink. Regrow: Cultivating tomorrow's opportunities" amid climate variability, global market volatility and evolving community expectations.
The program features ministerial addresses from Julie Collins and Anthony Chisholm, a keynote from UN FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero, and insights from ABARES analysts on the medium-term outlook, food security, productivity and agriculture's social licence. Find out more HERE. |