FTA / APSA Biosecurity Report - 36 08/9/2026 sponsored by InboundConnect

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 developments were dominated by three key themes: the commencement of the 2026-27 Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Risk Season, the release of DAFF's final Khapra Beetle pest risk analysis report, and changes to imported food cargo scheduling arrangements. Together, these developments highlight DAFF's ongoing focus on strengthening biosecurity controls while supporting efficient trade and cargo processing.

The commencement of the BMSB season from 1 September 2026 remains the most significant operational issue for importers, customs brokers and freight forwarders. Seasonal measures are now in effect for target risk and target high-risk goods, with industry adapting to several important changes including the approval of Ethyl Formate as a new treatment option and the removal of several legacy compliance arrangement. Businesses should continue reviewing treatment, reporting and supply chain processes to ensure compliance throughout the season.

DAFF's release of the final Khapra Beetle (Trogoderma granarium) pest risk analysis report for plant product pathways also attracted industry attention. While not introducing immediate import condition changes, the report reinforces the department's focus on managing one of the world's most significant stored grain pests and provides useful insight into future biosecurity policy directions.

In the imported food sector, DAFF issued an update to its Cargo Scheduling Policy for recuring appointments. While administrative in nature, the change is expected to assist importers, brokers and inspection service providers in improving the efficiency of imported food inspection bookings and cargo management processes.

BICON updates this week expanded import pathways for seafood, nursery stock and low-risk finfish, while strengthening controls through new seed verification requirements and additional weed risk species restrictions. Exporters were also advised of the upcoming PEMS migration and new Oman dairy export requirements. 

Industry participants were also reminded of the importance of business continuity planning following an unplanned BICON outage and several scheduled maintenance windows affecting key DAFF systems during the week.

As the first weeks of BMSB season unfold, industry attention is likely to remain focused on treatment capacity, compliance arrangements and any emerging operational challenges associated with seasonal measures. At the same time, ongoing refinements to import pathways, cargo management processes and digital certification systems demonstrate the continued evolution of Australia's biosecurity and trade facilitation framework.

For customs brokers, importers, exporters and logistics professionals, the common thread across this week's developments are clear: proactive planning, accurate documentation and early awareness of regulatory changes remain critical to maintaining efficient cargo flows and avoiding unnecessary border delays.

We hope you enjoy this week's report.
 

Read more here about Khapra Beetle 

Summary

Import Updates 

Import and biosecurity matters remained a key focus this week, with DAFF highlighting the commencement of the 2026-27 Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Risk Season from 1 September 2026 and the release of the final pest risk analysis report for Khapra Beetle (Trogoderma granarium) covering plant product pathways. These notices reinforce Australia's ongoing biosecurity measures aimed at managing high-risk pests and protecting domestic industries from potential incursions.

In the imported food sector, DAFF also issued IFN 14-26 advising of updates to the Cargo Scheduling Policy relating to recurring appointments. Importers, customs brokers and logistics providers should review the revised arrangements to ensure continued efficiency in cargo inspections and compliance with imported food clearance processes.

Businesses involved in importing goods from BMSB risk countries, handling plant products, or managing imported food consignments should familiarise themselves with the latest requirements and operational changes to minimise potential clearance delays and maintain compliance with Australia's biosecurity and food import regulations.

Export Updates

Export developments this week were primarily focused on operational and market access changes issued by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). IAN 2026-49 advised industry of the upcoming migration of the Plant Exports Management System (PEMS) platform, an important change for exporters and authorised users involved in plant export certification activities. Exporters should review the transition arrangements and ensure business processes are aligned ahead of implementation.

DAFF also released MAA 2026-23 outlining new palletisation requirements for milk and milk products exported to Oman. Businesses supplying dairy products to this market should familiarise themselves with the updated requirements and make any necessary adjustments to packaging and logistics processes to maintain compliance and avoid potential disruptions to trade.

System Notifications - Planned Outages

DAFF issued several system notifications during the week covering both unplanned service disruptions and scheduled maintenance activities across key departmental platforms. Notices included an unplanned outage affecting BICON on 3 September 2026, followed by confirmation that services had been restored later the same day. DAFF also advised of scheduled maintenance impacting multiple systems between 4 and 7 September 2026, along with a service restoration notice for AIMS.

Industry participants should continue to monitor DAFF system notices and schedule lodgements, permit applications should continue to monitor DAFF system notices and schedule lodgements, permit applications, inspections and cargo processing activities around planned maintenance windows. Recent notifications highlight the importance of allowing for potential disruptions to BICON, AIMS and other departmental systems during both scheduled and unexpected outage events.

BICON Watch - Weekly Case updates 

This week's BICON updates were largely focused on expanding authorised import pathways for a range of plant and animal products, while also strengthening biosecurity controls where specific species were assessed as posing an unacceptable risk to Australia.

A BICON case alert clarified that cooked prawns and cooked freshwater crayfish for human consumption may be imported from Japan under existing import conditions, provided consignments are accompanied by a health certificate issued by either the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) or the Japan Foods Inspection Corporation (JFIC). The update provides greater certainty for importers and exporters operating within this established pathway.

Several plant species were added to existing nursery stock pathways following successful Weed Risk Assessments and Disease Risk Assessments. New additions included Nepenthes leonardoi, Nepenthes gantungensis and Nepenthes diabolica under the Methyl bromide sensitive nursery stock case, Anthurium queremalense under the Moko disease hosts for use as nursery stock case, and Elaphoglossum deltoideum, Elaphoglossum exsertipes and Elaphoglossum peltatum under the Medium risk plants for use as nursery stock case. Existing permit holders wishing to import these species will need to apply for a permit variation, as current permits will not be updated automatically.

In the seafood sector, DAFF expanded the standard permit for "Low risk whole finfish, species as listed" by adding 37 additional fish species eligible for import. The expanded list applies to permits issued after 2 September 2026, with importers holding existing permits required to seek a variation or obtain a new permit to access the updated species list.

Conversely, biosecurity controls were strengthened for certain plant species following a taxonomic review. Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha and its synonym Asystasia intrusa were added to the Plant species that are weeds case after being assessed as presenting an unacceptable weed risk to Australia, resulting in these taxa being prohibited from importation.

DAFF also introduced new documentation requirements for Carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed for sowing, requiring importers to provide evidence verifying the scientific name of the seed. The requirement supports species verification and biosecurity risk management and forms part of a broader program that will progressively extend similar documentation requirements to additional restricted seed pathways requiring post-entry quarantine.

Overall, this week's updates primarily focused on facilitating trade through the approval of additional low-risk plant and fish species, while maintaining Australia's biosecurity safeguards through targeted restrictions and enhanced documentation requirements for higher risk pathways.

Cargo Operations Snapshot

2026-2027 FTA Online CPD Training Packages

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

• Meeting 103 2026 – Communique
• Meeting 103 2026 – Minutes

Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme (AFAS):

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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