Biosecurity operations improvements for strengthening Australia's biosecurity system

The increasing movement of goods and people means we need new, sustainable ways to protect Australia's Biosecurity – to safeguard our environment, trade and lifestyle. The Australian Government is focusing on the areas of highest biosecurity risk rather than relying on a mandatory intervention system where all risks were treated the same.

Since 2008 the Australian Government has agreed to focus on areas of higher biosecurity risk.

A stronger biosecurity system is being built cooperatively, which is:

• risk managed rather than risk-averse;
• an informed, evidence-based regulator supported by intelligence, analysis, risk profiling and feedback;
• monitoring risks offshore and onshore, as well as at the border;
• strengthening partnerships with stakeholders; and
• investing in better legislation, technology and processes.

Who benefits from a robust biosecurity system? 

• The Australian environment along with our agriculture and tourism industries, benefit from biosecurity. Australia’s robust biosecurity system has kept us free from many of the pests and diseases present in other parts of the world.
• The Australian community will benefit from more transparent regulation that rewards compliant importers and allows faster clearance at the border.
• Industry benefit from a more risk-based approach to biosecurity. The potential for reduced intervention based on good compliance means reduced audit rates and inspections for shipping vessels and air and sea containers.

What's changing?

DAFF biosecurity officers are continuing to monitor goods and vessels for  biosecurity risk material and compliance with Australias import requirements.

The move to a risk based invention approach will see DAFF continually reviewing pathways, profiles, commodities and entities across all import operation activities to ensure we are focusing our resources on the areas of highest biosecurity risk and are rewarding compliant behaviour with less intervention.

Achievements in 2011-12

1. 19 715 import permits issued
2. 20 676 vessel inspections
3. 497 271 AIMS entries created
4. 678 000 sea containers inspected
5. 721 049 low value air consignments screened
6. 15.4M passengers processed
7. 164M mail items were screened
8. Over $230B worth of imports arrived in Australia.

DAFF will target risks better and reward compliance with less intervention by collecting better information and strengthening our partnerships.

Faster vessel processing using documentation and targeted inspections leading to reduced costs for entities demonstrating good compliance.

Paperless processing of non commercial air cargo documentation saving time and money by moving away from manual processes.

Biosecurity Pathway Risk Review

DAFF is conducting targeted inspections of different commodities and supply 'pathways' over specific periods of time. using tariff codes on some higher risk products including selected machinery, food, plant and biological imports. The goal is to better understand biosecurity risks associated with these commodities and to use this understanding to revise the way we manage these risks.

Rural Assurance - Postcode Review

Since the 1 July 2012 only sea containers heading to rural destinations will be subject to 'rural tailgate' inspections. The 'fringe rural' destination classification will cease and a number of other locations will now more accurately be classified as 'metropolitan' and therefore no longer requiring rural tailgate inspections. Tailgate inspections will still be conducted on all containers destined for rural locations.

Improved Import Clearance Effectiveness (ICE)

Import Clearance Effectiveness (ICE)iInspections are being improved. This involves the automation and randomization of consignments selected for intervention and the expansion of the types of commodities available for selection. DAFF has also streamlined data collection and reporting. 

National Surveillance

DAFF has introduced a nationally consistent approach to monitoring imported goods at quarantine approved premises, airports wharves and port precincts where surveillance is currently performed. This will be expanded to the wider import community including importers premises and rural delivery locations during 2012-13.

Targeted Compliance Campaigns

Targeted campaigns will see more officers conduct surveillance, verification and inspection activities on higher risk consignments. These campaigns will be selected using evidence collected on consignments, compliance history, importer profiles and other data. The first of these campaigns focused on food imports from selected countries with higher disease risk.

Increased Stakeholder Engagement

DAFF is continuing to work with importers, agents, shipping lines, stevedores, quarantine approved premises, transport operators, treatment providers, rural groups and the Australian community to better understand the needs across the cargo and shipping industry sectors.

• A network of DAFF Biosecurity managers has been established to coordinate and expand engagement with stakeholders. Local issues will be responded to more quickly with national support. Experienced biosecurity officers will identify and address issues quickly by learning more about how industry operates, what impact our regulations have, and how we can work better together to safeguard Australia's biosecurity.
• A national register has been established to record, track and report on issues raised by stakeholders to ensure timely follow up and assistance is provided.

These initiatives should have minimal adverse impact on compliant importers, trade logistics and the Australian community.

What's next?

The changes are part of a range of significant improvements to biosecurity regulation which include:

2013 Start of BICON implementation, the new user-friendly Biosecurity Import Conditions system to make biosecurity requirements more accessible to the public, industry and DAFF staff.

2013 Start of of government-to-government electronic (rather than paper) documentation to increase automation and reduce fraud.

2013 New legislation to make Australia’s biosecurity system more responsive and streamlined.