PEAK IMPORT SEASON: STEPS TO HELP KEEP

YOUR GOODS MOVING

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) has received advice from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) that import document assessment and inspection workloads remain elevated, with further pressure expected during the 2026–27 Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) season and the lead-up to Christmas.

DAFF has today formally issued IIAN 193-2026 Peak demand period for Import Document Assessment and Inspection activity, outlining the measures being taken to manage demand and, importantly, the steps industry can take to help avoid unnecessary delays.

While DAFF is implementing measures to manage the increased workload, industry is encouraged to plan ahead and make use of available digital, self service and Approved Arrangement options to help minimise potential delays.

What Industry can do?

To support timely processing, importers and customs brokers are encouraged to:

• Lodge documentation early, well before goods arrive, as permits.
• Get documentation right first time, ensuring it is complete, accurate and meets minimum documentary requirements and applicable import conditions.
• Use Approved Arrangement class 19 for eligible entries with compliant documentation.
• Use the COLS lodgement status checker to monitor document assessment progress rather than contacting DAFF for routine status updates.
• Request inspections through the Biosecurity Portal and keep business profiles, contact details, service hours and site access requirements up to date.
• Select 'Next available' as the preferred inspection period where practical. Restricting a request to AM or PM may reduce available booking options.
• Consider Approved Arrangement class 14.4 rural tailgate inspections for eligible imported containers destined for unpack in rural areas.
• Self Assessed Clearance clients should consider participating in the Document Lodgement Service (DLS).

• The training of additional Imported Food Assessment officers to help address the increase in Imported Food lodgements
• Continuation of industry requested service outside of business hours to assess import documents and conduct inspections, subject to resource availability.
• The department is reviewing the risk associated with various imported commodities. This has and continues to result in a lower referral and intervention rate for a number of commodities while maintaining a strong and effective biosecurity system.
• Biosecurity officers providing information during Imported Food inspections regarding the utilisation of Food Import Compliance Agreements (FICA's) and Imported food label and visual virtual inspections.
• Supporting industry uptake of self-service digital tools, including the Biosecurity Portal's Industry Reporting and Cargo Status Tracker functionality, which provides eligible users with greater visibility of consignments being managed by the department and reduces the need for status enquiries.