| 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
This week, Biosecurity activities centered on strengthening import risk management, monitoring emerging pest and disease threats, and improving the efficiency of Australia's import regulatory framework. National surveillance for H5 bird flu continued, with additional detections confirmed in wild birds in Victoria and South Australia. While the number of positive or presumed positive detections has increased to 62 nationally. Importantly, there continue to be no detections in poultry or Australia's agricultural production systems, and the risk to human health continues to be assessed as low.
DAFF released a range of import updates, including consultation on a proposed Imported New Vehicle Policy, changes to BMSB clearance pathways for the 2026-27 season, and updates to treatment provider compliance arrangements. The department also issued guidance on the management of returning Australian goods and revised First Point of Entry arrangements at Broome International Airport.
BICON updates included further implementation of the Dairy Import Risk Review, the addition of two approved treatment facilities for imported seeds, and the consolidation of stockfeed import requirements into the Goods for animal consumption case to simplify import processes while maintaining biosecurity protections.
Industry were also advised of several planned outages affecting key DAFF systems, including the Biosecurity Portal, EVE, iRAM and AAMP, highlighting the importance of planning ahead to minimise operational disruptions.
We hope you enjoy this week's report.
Summary
INTRESO eFUME For BMSB
Last week INTRESO presented an information session on their product eFUME for BMSB .The session was presented by the INTRESO team, Snery Samuel, Swasti Pandya and Jane Beardwell who delivered a detailed insight to the product. The session also included a live presentation online from DAFF, with Ceyon Wickramabaskaran and Jana Lorenzi from Compliance outlining the methodology, while Kylie Baker and Riley Banks from DAFF Communications discussed the work involved in bringing the program to operation.
eFUME has been approved as an onshore biosecurity treatment option for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) risk goods. It provides a safe, non-residual treatment solution for post harvest produce, packaged and stored foods, and processing equipment.
Read more HERE
H5 Bird Flu updates
Testing at CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) has confirmed 6 positive results from greater crested terns in Victoria, 4 in Portland and 2 in Nelson Bay, and 2 positive results in South Australia including a silver gull in Southend and a greater crested tern in Monarto. There have now been 62 confirmed or presumed positive detections of H5 bird flu in Australia. There remain no detections in poultry or in our agriculture production system.
The risk to human health remains low. Read more HERE
Import Updates
DAFF announced several biosecurity and import pathway updates this week. Industry consultation has opened on a proposed Imported New Vehicle Policy, aimed at strengthening biosecurity risk management, clarifying supply chain responsibilities, and improving compliance outcomes for imported vehicles.
The department also advised of changes to BMSB alternative clearance pathways for the 2026-27 season, updates to Broome International Airport's First Point of Entry determination, and new guidance for the management of returning Australian goods on vessels being released from biosecurity control.
In addition, DAFF continued its compliance monitoring of approved treatment providers, placing Fumichem Pte Ltd under review and suspending Wieslawa Gielecka Cargo Lift from the approved treatment provider list.
Read more HERE
Have your say Imported new Vehicle Policy HERE
System Notifications - Planned Outages
Several DAFF planned system notifications were issued during the week, advising industry participants of both planned outages and unplanned service disruption affecting a range of critical biosecurity and reporting platforms. Scheduled maintenance impacted ADI, iRAM and MARS, while further outages were advised for AAMP,BCST, the Biosecurity Portal and EVE between 30 and 31 July 2026. DAFF also issued advance notice of a significant maintenance window scheduled for 1 to 2 August 2026 affecting the RAM website, Biosecurity Portal, AA Class 14.4 outcomes and EVE. Stakeholders are encouraged to monitor DAFF communications and plan activities around the scheduled maintenance periods to minimise operational impacts.
BICON Watch - Weekly Case updates
DAFF provided an update on the implementation of the Dairy Import Risk Review, advising that the first transition stage will conclude on 31 August 2026. From this date, import permits containing dual sets of import conditions will no longer be issued. Existing permits will remain valid, while negotiations on new health certification arrangements continue with exporting countries. Importers are also encouraged to use the latest production questionnaires available through BICON to support efficient permit assessments.
DAFF also expanded the number of Approved Arrangement (AA) sites authorised to undertake unsupervised sodium hypochlorite treatment of imported seeds for sowing, with Westranell Horticultural Pty Ltd (VIC) and South Pacific Seeds Pty Ltd (NSW) added to the approved list. The change is intended to increase treatment capacity and support smoother import processing for affected seed pathways.
In a further system simplification initiative, DAFF consolidated import conditions previously contained within the 'Stockfeed, stockfeed ingredients and stockfeed additives' case into the 'Goods for animal consumption' case. The update aims to streamline import requirements, improve navigation and reduce complexity for industry while maintaining existing biosecurity protections. |