About Biosecurity Australia
Who we are
Biosecurity Australia is the unit within the Biosecurity Services Group, in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, responsible for recommendations for the development of Australia's biosecurity policy.
Biosecurity Australia undertakes science-based risk assessments and provides quarantine policy advice to protect Australia’s animal and plant health status and natural environment. We also provide technical advice to enhance Australia’s access to international markets and participate in international organisations that set biosecurity standards.
Further details of the structure of the Biosecurity Services Group can be found in the organisational chart.
What we do
Biosecurity Australia develops and reviews quarantine policies. The process to develop a new quarantine policy, where no policy exists, is called an import risk analysis (IRA) and is undertaken by our scientists and technical specialists.
We also provide scientific and technical advice and support to help Australia maintain or gain entry to international animal- and plant-related markets.
Our specialists are active in the development of international quarantine standards and help to develop quarantine expertise in our region.
International framework
As a World Trade Organization (WTO) member, Australia is obliged under the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) to consider all import requests from other countries concerning agricultural products, just as other member countries are obliged to consider our requests.
Decisions to permit or reject an import application can be made only on sound scientific grounds.
Biosecurity Australia also works with international agencies that set standards for animal and plant health. These are:
- The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), which informs member countries of animal disease outbreaks throughout the world, and studies new ways of controlling animal diseases and sets international standards; and
- The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) which provides a framework for international cooperation, sets international standards and exchanges information on plant health.