DAFF - FTA/APSA Biosecurity Report 41 - 13/10/26 Sponsored by Biosecurity Business Pledge Australia

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's biosecurity and trade developments were centred on import pathway reviews, regulatory updates, export market access requirements, and ongoing system reliability. While there were no major emergency biosecurity responses or significant policy reforms announced, DAFF continued to strengthen compliance frameworks, refine import and export processes, and enhance operational guidance for industry participants.

Import updates focused on maintaining biosecurity safeguards and improving regulatory oversight. Key developments included revised requirements for importing kava, changes to Adelaide Airport's first point of entry determination, and the commencement of stakeholder consultation on the import pathway for assistance animals (cats and dogs). DAFF also suspended Indonesian treatment provider CV. Karya Morosi Utama from its approved treatment provider list and updated the Country Action List (CAL) cargo transhipment inspection exemption form.

Collectively, these measures demonstrate DAFF's continued emphasis on managing biosecurity risk while ensuring import pathways remain effective and fit for purpose.

This week's BICON updates reflected a focus on consultation, pathway improvements, and documentation integrity. Notable changes included the addition of Alocasia tandurusa to approved nursery stock import pathways following favourable risk assessments, and the introduction of new documentation requirements for a range of restricted seed-for-sowing pathways to improve species verification and reduce border clearance delays. DAFF also expanded the Compliance-Based Intervention Scheme (CBIS) to reintroduce chilled segmented durian from Thailand into the scheme, reflecting the department's ongoing risk-based approach to import compliance and intervention activities.

System notifications were dominated by a series of unplanned outages, service interruptions, and subsequent restorations affecting DAFF Messaging and multiple departmental systems. Industry was also advised of scheduled maintenance activities across various platforms between 9 and 10 October. While all affected services were subsequently restored, the week's notifications reinforce the importance of monitoring system availability and contingency planning when managing cargo clearances, certification activities, and regulatory lodgements.

Export activity was moderately active, with updates spanning export biosecurity requirements, system modernisation, and international market access. DAFF issued revised Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA) treatment advice, announced the migration of the Plant Export Management System (PEMS), and advised of Thailand's new import restrictions affecting live blue mussels. These developments highlight the ongoing need for exporters to remain attentive to changing certification, treatment, and overseas market requirements.

Overall, this week's updates reflect DAFF's continued focus on enhancing biosecurity protections, improving compliance arrangements, and modernising regulatory processes across both import and export pathways. While the week was characterised more by operational and procedural changes than major policy announcements, the breadth of notices issued demonstrates the importance of industry participants staying informed of incremental regulatory developments that can have a direct impact on cargo movements, documentation requirements, and market access outcomes.

This week the Approved arrangement Class 19 Continuing Biosecurity Competency (CBC) course became live on the 12 October 2026. Please check Learnhub to complete. It will cover Stream A and 4.5 CPD points. Customs brokers have until 10 November to complete.

We hope you enjoy this week's report.

Summary

Import Updates 

Import activity this week centred on regulatory updates, biosecurity controls, and import pathway reviews. DAFF issued an update to the requirements for importing kava, requiring importers to familiarise themselves with the revised conditions and compliance obligations. Industry stakeholders were also advised of changes to Adelaide Airport's first point of entry determination and invited to provide feedback on the proposed import pathway arrangements for assistance animals (cats and dogs).

Additional operational updates included the suspension of Indonesian treatment provider CV.Karya Morosi Utama from the approved treatment provider list and revisions to the Country Action List (CAL) cargo transhipment inspection exemption form. Collectively, these notices reflect DAFF's continued focus on maintaining biosecurity safeguards, strengthening import compliance arrangements, and ensuring import pathways remain fit for purpose across a range of commodities and regulated activities.
 

Export Updates

Export activity increased slightly this week, with three notices issued by DAFF covering export systems, market access, and biosecurity requirements.

DAFF has updated treatment requirements and guidance relating to Red Imported Fire Ant Risk management. Exporters and treatment providers should review the revised advice to ensure compliance with current export certification and biosecurity requirements.

On 9 October 2026 DAFF has advised of the migration of the Plant Export Management System (PEMS) platform. Exporters and industry participants should be aware of system changes, planned transition activities, and any potential impacts on plant export documentation and processing.

Thailand has introduced import restrictions affecting live blue mussels. Exporters of fish and fish products should review the new requirements and assess any impacts on current or future consignments to the Thai market.
 

System Notifications - Outages, Service Disruptions and Restorations

This week's system notifications were primarily focused on a series of unplanned outages, scheduled maintenance activities, and subsequent service restorations affecting DAFF messaging and multiple departmental systems. During the week, industry was advised of several disruptions, including outages impacting DAFF Messaging services on 6 and 8 October, as well as a broader multi-system outage on 9 October. DAFF subsequently confirmed the successful restoration of affected services following each incident. In addition, notifications were issued regarding planned maintenance and scheduled outages across multiple systems between 9 and 10 October 2026. Overall, the notifications reflect ongoing efforts to maintenance to support the stability and reliability of DAFF's operational systems.
 

BICON Watch - Weekly Case updates 

This week's case alerts and BICON updates focused on stakeholder consultation, import pathway enhancements, and strengthened biosecurity controls. DAFF launched a public consultation seeking industry feedback on the import pathway for assistance animals (cats and dogs), inviting input from importers, animal training organisations, veterinarians, government agencies, and other stakeholders as part of a review of current arrangements.

Several BICON changes were also introduced. Alocasia tandurusa was added to the approved Ceratocystis spp. hosts for use as nursery stock import pathway following favourable weed and disease risk assessments, allowing future imports subject to permit variations. New documentation requirements were implemented across a range of restricted sewed-for-sowing pathways, requiring importers to provide supporting documents that clearly identify the scientific name of imported seed to improve species verification, strengthen biosecurity safeguards, and reduce clearance delays
 

Cargo Operations Snapshot

2026-2027 FTA Online CPD Training Packages

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Cargo Consultative Committee (DCCC)

• Meeting 104 2026 – Communique
• Meeting 104 2026 – Minutes

Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme (AFAS):

To support customs brokers and importers in staying ahead of operational changes, we have introduced a weekly snapshot of BICON case updates issued in the past seven days. This section will highlight newly added conditions, revised import pathways, and notable treatment or permit changes that may affect lodgements and client advice.

Case Alerts:

'Have Your Say' on the import pathway for assistance animals (cats and dogs)

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is inviting stakeholders to provide feedback as part of its review of the import pathway for assistance animals (cats and dogs). Effective from 9 October 2026, a public consultation survey has been launched through the Have our Say platform to gather input from importers, pet transport agents, assistance animal training organisations, veterinarians, government agencies, and other interested parties. The review applies only to assistance animals and does not affect the existing import pathway for companion cats and dogs. Stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the survey and review Industry Advice Notice 172-2026 for further information.

 

Case Changes:   



Addition of Alocasia tandurusa to 'Ceratocystis spp. hosts for use as nursery stock' BICON case

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has completed a Weed Risk Assessment and Disease Risk Assessment for Alocasia Tandurusa and determined that the species pose a low weed risk to Australia. As a result, Alocasia tandurusa has been added to the "Ceratocystis spp. hosts for use as nursery stock" BICON case and is now permitted for import under the relevant import conditions.

Current import permits will not be automatically updated to include this species. Importers wishing to import Alocasia tandurusa must apply for a permit variation.

New documentation requirement for restricted seed for sowing

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has introduced a new documentation requirement for selected restricted seed for sowing import pathways to strengthen verification of seed identity and support biosecurity risk management.

Under the new requirement, importers must provide documentation that clearly identifies the scientific (botanical) name of the seed being imported. Acceptable supporting documents include a packing list, supplier declaration, invoice, or phytosanitary certificate.

The change has now been implemented for a range of restricted seed-for-sowing BICON cases, including Avena, Hordeum, Oryza, Pennisetum, Phaseolus, Panicum, Brachiaria/Urochloa, Sesame, Papaya, Avocado,Cotton, and other specified genera, and will be progressively expanded to additional restricted seed cases requiring post-entry quarantine.

The requirement has been introduced because, while seed consignments are already required to be labelled with their full scientific name, there was previously no formal requirement for accompanying documentation to also include this information. The new measure will improve species verification, reduce biosecurity risks, and help prevent border clearance delays caused by insufficient documentation.

The department will continue to notify industry as additional cases are updated and will vary affected import permits at no cost to importers.

Expanding the Compliance-Based Intervention Scheme to include chilled segmented durian from Thailand

Effective 7 October 2026, the Department is expanding the Compliance-Based Intervention Scheme (CBIS) to re-introduce chilled segmented durian from Thailand into the scheme. Under the updated arrangements, consignments of fresh,chilled, segmented durian fruit from Thailand (HS 0810.60.00.52) will be subject to an inspection intervention pathway under CBIS.

This change affects importers and customs brokers dealing with Thai durian imports and applies to the BICON case "Semi-processed fruit and vegetables for human consumption." Further details are available in Import Industry Advice Notice (IIAN-168-2026).

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Reminder - Stay Updated on Import & Export Conditions:

Biosecurity Treatment Providers Reference Group (BTPRG)

On 1 July 2020, Freight & Trade Alliance established the Biosecurity Treatment Providers Reference Group (BTPRG) designed to provide a One Voice platform for treatment providers to engage with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) to deliver nationally consistent advocacy position(s) to government to lead reform and implement best practice. You can read our terms of reference HERE.
If you would like more information, please contact John Park.  The value of the group has been acknowledged by DAFF as can be seen HERE.

As always, we encourage members to share their feedback and insights to help us identify issues and advocate for improvements on your behalf.

Lucy Robinson - Licensed Customs Broker
Head of Border, Biosecurity & Logistics - FTA / APSA

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