DAFF - IIAN : 192-2026 Requesting release from biosecurity control for international aircraft

5 November 2026

Who does this notice affect?

All airlines and aircraft operators operating international flights into Australian territory, including their representatives and ground handling agents.

What has changed?

This notice is a reminder to all aircraft operators that in accordance with s191 of the Biosecurity Act 2015 (the Act), international aircraft arriving in Australian territory are subject to biosecurity control.

Aircraft operators intending to enter the domestic network after arriving in Australia must request the release of their aircraft from biosecurity control prior to doing so. The request can be submitted via email to the intended first landing place.

This protocol ensures that, before an aircraft operates within Australia's domestic flight network, the department has assessed and appropriately managed any potential biosecurity risks, ensuring an acceptable level of protection.

Action Required

When an arriving aircraft transitions from an international flight number to a domestic flight number, a request to be released from biosecurity control to the aircraft's first landing place in Australian territory must be submitted.

Biosecurity officers will attend the aircraft and conduct a risk assessment that will involve the following:

• all unused catering is unloaded and managed by a department approved third-party provider
• all international waste is unloaded and managed by a department approved third-party provider
• all international cargo and baggage are unloaded

Under the department's Biosecurity Cost Recovery Implementation Statement, biosecurity activities relating to arriving conveyances are cost recovered. Aircraft operators will be charged for the attendance of biosecurity officers when requesting release from biosecurity control.

Further information

Please contact Conveyance.Aircraft@aff.gov.au.