| 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 updates centre on operational pressures, regulatory verification activity and consultation reform across both import and export settings. DAFF has flagged extended inspection booking delays in Melbourne driven largely by client booking behaviours and non-ready cargo presentations, while progressing system responses including officer training and scheduling reviews.
At a policy level, the Department continues advancing Khapra Beetle risk management through the Draft Pest Risk Analysis (plant pathways) and a targeted verification operation on imported rice, alongside broader export regulatory reform via consultation on the 2026–27 Cost Recovery Implementation Statement. These developments come amid continued sector growth and leadership transition, with Secretary Victoria Anderson using her Senate Estimates debut to reinforce the scale, resilience and economic significance of Australia's agriculture portfolio. We hope you enjoy this week's report.
Summary - Imported Food Booking Behaviours & Inspection Delays (VIC)
DAFF is experiencing extended delays in imported food inspection availability in Melbourne. Bookings continue via the Biosecurity Portal; however, wait times are longer than usual.
Drivers of Delays: - Client booking behaviours.
- Goods not ready at time of inspection.
Department Response: - Accelerated training of new officers.
- Ongoing schedule reviews to improve booking efficiency.
Industry Guidance: - Only select "Goods Ready for Inspection" when all documentation, BICON conditions, and directions are met and cargo is correctly presented.
- Non-compliant presentations may result in booking cancellations, fees, and rebooking delays.
- Selecting "Anytime" increases chances of earlier inspections versus AM/PM requests.
- Monitor emails closely, bookings may be brought forward if capacity opens.
- Consider virtual inspections (where eligible) to secure earlier availability.
Industry participants are encouraged to review internal booking practices and ensure cargo presentation standards are met prior to securing inspection appointments. Early preparation of documentation, treatment evidence and BICON direction compliance will be critical to minimising avoidable delays. DAFF has reiterated that improved booking accuracy and cargo readiness will support more efficient allocation of limited inspection resources while broader workforce and scheduling enhancements continue to be implemented. - Khapra Beetle Pest Risk Analysis (Draft Part 1) - Update plant product pathways for Khapra Beetle
FTA attended the department's recent industry webinar outlining the Draft Part 1 Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) for Khapra Beetle, which focuses on plant product import pathways and proposed long-term risk management settings. The draft report evaluates the effectiveness of current emergency measures introduced under urgent actions and sets out proposed ongoing controls to manage khapra beetle risk in traded plant commodities.
Key Outcomes: - Emergency measures — largely unchanged
All seven existing emergency measures are proposed to remain as ongoing risk management controls. - New measure — research cargo
An additional control (Measure 8) will apply to plant products imported for research use. - Target-risk country expansion
Up to eight countries proposed for inclusion:
Angola • Chad • Guinea • Jordan • Kazakhstan • Tajikistan • Tanzania • Turkmenistan
This may increase treatment, certification, and inspection requirements across impacted trade lanes. - Treatment settings confirmed
Methyl bromide remains an approved treatment — but not the sole option. Accepted treatments include: - Methyl bromide fumigation
- Heat treatment
- Controlled atmosphere treatment (provisionally accepted)
- Phytosanitary & treatment amendments
Proposed changes include: - Updated phytosanitary certificate declarations
- Revised offshore treatment provider registration requirements
- Inspection wording confirming freedom from live Trogoderma spp.
- Removal of Trogoderma serraticorne from the concern species list
Refer to our segment last week for details on how to contribute to the consultation that closes 27th of February 2026. - Export Cost Recovery Implementation Statement 2026–27 Consultation
The Australian Government is implementing revised cost recovery arrangements for export regulatory functions to ensure services remain financially sustainable and capable of meeting export demand. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has opened public consultation on the Export Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS) 2026–27.
Export regulatory programs have received:
• $138 million in Government supplementation since 2023–24.
• A further $49 million will be provided through the transition to full cost recovery by 2029–30.
Cost Recovery Implementation Statements outline how regulatory costs are calculated and recovered across export commodities and services.
This consultation is supported by commodity-specific Industry Advice Notices (IANs), including:
• IAN 2026-01 — Eggs
• IAN 2026-02 — Fish
• IAN 2026-02 — Dairy
Key Points:
• The draft 2026–27 Export CRIS opened for consultation on 29 January 2026.
• Stakeholders can provide feedback via the Have Your Say platform.
• Consultation closes 5:00 pm AEDT — 6 March 2026.
• In-person consultation sessions are available (registration required).
• DAFF will review submissions and publish a summary of feedback.
• Final cost recovery settings will commence July 2026.
Consultation Focus:
Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on:
• Fee structures and charging methodology
• Rationale for cost allocation
• Business and supply chain impacts
• Opportunities to improve consultation processes
Industry participants supporting prescribed goods exports should monitor consultation outcomes. Find out more via the FTA website. - Imported Foods - Verification Operation: Imported Rice
DAFF has issued IIAN 21-2026 advising of a routine verification operation targeting imported rice for human consumption to assess compliance with import conditions managing khapra beetle risk from target risk countries.
Commencing 16 February 2026, a pre-determined number of consignments will be subject to enhanced scrutiny across treatment certification, documentation and inspection. The Department does not expect material impacts to overall clearance timeframes.
Key operational impacts include:
• Class 19.2 ineligibility — Selected consignments will be removed from AA Class 19.2 and undergo full departmental document assessment (fees applicable).
• Record of Fumigation (RoF) required — A biosecurity direction will request the offshore RoF (separate to the fumigation certificate) to verify methyl bromide treatment compliance.
• Enhanced inspections — Officers will photograph cargo and packaging, which may increase time required for the inspection booking.
The operation is driven by increasing documentation/treatment non-compliance and live pest detections in treated rice shipments, with findings to inform future khapra risk settings and policy refinement. Read more HERE. - Senate Estimates - DAFF Secretary Victoria Anderson Makes Debut
DAFF Secretary Victoria Anderson has fronted Senate Estimates for the first time since taking on the role in December, receiving a warm welcome from the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee.
Returning to a department where she has spent much of her career, Anderson said it was a "great pleasure" to be back and acknowledged the depth of expertise across DAFF's workforce, spanning scientists, veterinarians, policy specialists, frontline officers and ICT teams. She told the committee she looked forward to supporting current and future hearings.
Anderson steps into the role at a challenging time, with the agriculture portfolio heavily impacted by climate pressures and increasing disaster recovery responsibilities, including coordination with the National Emergency Management Agency and state bodies.
Despite this, she pointed to continued sector strength, noting five consecutive years of growth. Gross value of agricultural production for 2025–26 is forecast at $106 billion, with exports expected to reach close to $84 billion. She acknowledged ongoing industry impacts from drying conditions, bushfires and floods, noting DAFF remains engaged with stakeholders and continues to administer support programs, including the Farm Household Allowance and Rural Financial Counselling Service, alongside broader disaster recovery assistance. Anderson concluded that, notwithstanding current challenges, Australia's agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries continue to grow and supply high-quality food and fibre domestically and to around 190 international markets each year.
If you're ever interested in watching a Senate hearing, did you know you can livestream proceedings via the Australian Parliament House Streaming Portal? You can access the streams via YouTube HERE. |