| 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 released several key updates, including changes to BIIS email notification settings, the introduction of a new system-outage notification webpage, and the appointment of a new departmental Secretary. DAFF also announced expansions to both Approved Arrangement Class 19.2 and the Highly Compliant Importer (HCI) scheme, alongside publishing end-of-year closure arrangements for Plant Exports. Industry is encouraged to review these updates and plan accordingly.
We hope you enjoy this week's report.
Summary - Upcoming BIIS Email Sender Change
DAFF has issued advance notice that from 27 February 2026, all automated emails from the Biosecurity Integrated Information System (BIIS) / Import Management System (IMS) will switch from DoNotReply@aff.gov.au, to noreply@aff.gov.au. This affects all SAC clients, customs brokers and reporters who rely on these system-generated notifications.
Industry is advised to update allow-lists, filters, routing rules and automated processing to ensure emails from the aff.gov.au domain continue to be received without disruption. DAFF recommends completing updates ahead of the BIIS production release. For support, contact BIIS Technical Support. Read more HERE.
- New DAFF Secretary Appointed
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the appointment of Ms Victoria Anderson as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for a five-year term commencing 8 December 2025.
Ms Anderson brings an extensive public-sector background, most recently serving as Deputy Secretary of the Small Business, Corporate and Law Group at Treasury, with earlier senior leadership positions in DAFF and the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
Her policy expertise spans industry and drought policy, agricultural market access, biosecurity, and corporate governance. She notably led the Government's Jobs and Skills Summit (2022) and national schools-reform work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Prime Minister also thanked Ms Justine Saunders APM for her service as Acting Secretary since September 2025. FTA welcomes Ms Anderson's appointment and looks forward to continuing strong engagement with DAFF under her leadership. Read more HERE.
- Reminder on New 'System Notifications' Webpage for Biosecurity IT Outages
DAFF has issued a reminder that from Friday 12 December 2025, all biosecurity import system outage notifications will move from the existing IIAN webpages to a new dedicated 'System notifications' webpage.
Biosecurity Industry Participants who rely on departmental IT systems for managing imported cargo, conveyances, and inspection bookings are encouraged to subscribe now to the new notification service via: https://subscribe.agriculture.gov.au/subscribe
(Import News - Import System Notifications).
Those currently subscribed to IIANs will continue receiving outage notifications only until 31 January 2026. From 1 February 2026, system-outage notifications will be issued exclusively via the new subscription service. DAFF will publish an IIAN once the new webpage is live on 12 December 2025 and further updates will follow. Read more HERE.
- Expansion of Approved Arrangement Class 19.2
Import Industry Advice Notice 406-2025 has been released advising that from 8 December 2025, the scope of Approved Arrangement Class 19.2 will be expanded. The update introduces additional eligible goods under the class 19.2 framework, alongside changes to relevant biosecurity pathways.
Notably, the BICON case for "Fish including fish caviar, fish roe, fish viscera and fish maw (excluding salmonid fish)" has been broadened to incorporate new consumer-ready finfish pathways aligned with the class 19.2 approved arrangement.
DAFF will update both the Class 19.2 commodities webpage and the affected BICON case to reflect the new scope. For further details, industry participants can contact Class19@aff.gov.au. Read more HERE.
- Expansion of the Highly Compliant Importer (HCI) Scheme
DAFF has released Import Industry Advice Notice 407-2025 confirming that from 8 December 2025, the Highly Compliant Importer (HCI) scheme will expand to cover additional machinery goods. This change affects importers, Class 19 accredited persons, and customs brokers lodging consignments of machinery.
The HCI program, designed to reward strong biosecurity compliance through reduced inspection intervention, will now apply to a broader range of machinery import pathways. Importers with consistently compliant inspection histories may receive reduced onshore intervention, while those with lower compliance will remain at 100% inspection.
DAFF will update the HCI scheme webpage to reflect the expanded scope. For further information, industry can contact Class19@aff.gov.au. Read more HERE.
- Plant Exports – End-of-Year Closure Arrangements
DAFF has advised of end-of-year closure arrangements for Plant Exports.
Key Closure Dates: - All Canberra offices closed from COB 24 December 2025, reopening 2 January 2026.
- General enquiry line (1800 900 090), regional offices and major ports:
- Closed: 24–26 December and 1 January
- Open (limited): 29–31 December
Inspection Appointments: - Must be booked before COB Friday, 19 December 2025 for work between 24 December and 1 January.
EXDOC & Micor: - Inboxes not monitored 24 December–1 January.
- Requests needed before shutdown:
- EXDOC coding: by COB 12 December
- Micor case updates: by COB 12 December
- Certification enquiries (29–31 December): contact ASG – Plant (NDH).
Authorised Officer Program: - Canberra office closed 24 December–2 January.
- PEMS inbox checked daily (limited).
- AO Hotline (1800 851 305) remains operational with extended hours.
- No AO training, assessments, or RAM visits 25 December–1 January.
Assessment Services Exports: - Closed: 25 December, 26 December, 1 January
- Open: 29–31 December
- Standard processing timeframes apply (1 business day air freight, 3 business days sea freight).
- Overtime (OT) requests required for RFPs/certificates on closure days, with strict cut-off times.
DAFF encourages exporters and AOs to plan ahead for certification, inspections and documentation during the shutdown period. Read more HERE. |