Date of publication: 29 June 2026
Attention
Stakeholders including importers, customs brokers, freight forwarders and biosecurity industry participants (approved arrangement and compliance agreement holders) vessel masters and shipping agents.
Purpose
This advice informs industry of the 1 July 2026 commencement of changes to regulatory charges for biosecurity and imported food regulatory activities.
Key points
Changes to regulatory charging in 2026-27
Indexation
Indexation will apply to most cost recovery charges for biosecurity and imported food regulatory activities in accordance with legislative provision introduced in 2023. Most cost recovery charges will increase by 3.8%.
New prices have been published in the 2026-27 Biosecurity Cost Recovery Implementation Statement and pricing tables.
New price points and legislative amendments
From 1 July 2026 new cost recovery charges and changes to biosecurity charging legislation will commence. These include:
- increases to cost recovery charges for companion animals above the indexation rate.
- new cost recovery charges for imported live garden snails housed at the Post Entry Quarantine facility.
- revised cost recovery provisions for avian imports
- removal of the horse husbandry overstay, and outside ordinary hours permit assessment fees.
Further information about these changes is included in the 2026-27 Biosecurity Cost Recovery Implementation Statement.
Improvements to cost recovery for diagnostics
We will introduce improvements to cost recovery for regulatory diagnostic services through a phased approach during 2026–27:
- Phase 1 - new charges for diagnostic activities associated with international vessels commences 1 July 2026.
- Phase 2 – we are proposing to implement a revised fee structure, including fixed fees for most diagnostic activities relating to imported cargo, which is expected to commence 1 November 2026.
Instructions
Further information on new prices and changes is available on our Biosecurity cost recovery implementation statements webpage.
Enquiries can be directed to the BioCRIS@aff.gov.au.
Subscribe for updates
Stay updated on changes to the requirements for imported food. Subscribe to the Imported Food Inspection Scheme imported food notices.