ICON Redevelopment Project

About the project

DAFF commenced work on its most significant IT project in 2009, the redevelopment of its import conditions (ICON) database. The ICON system manages and publishes the quarantine conditions relating to the importation of goods. This information assists Australian importers, overseas exporters and all other parties in the international supply chain to comply with the requirements necessary to minimise the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering the country and for DAFF staff to apply import conditions accurately.

The redeveloped system is called Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON), and it is designed to improve the quality and integrity of the import conditions information, the usability of the system for both internal and external users and the efficiency of the import permit issuing process. A Content Authoring Team has been established to convert the 18 000 ICON cases that house the import conditions into the new BICON format. The import conditions are being reviewed and augmented to improve consistency and completeness – but the underlying biosecurity requirements will remain consistent with the existing ICON system.

Following an open tender process, the KAZ Group Pty Ltd (a Fujitsu company) was selected as the successful tenderer for the software build contract. KAZ commenced work on the project in April 2009.

The BICON system will make it easier for anyone around the world to search or browse Australia's import conditions.  The system including the new permit application and processing functions is planned to be available to users in 2012.

Industry working groups

To assist DAFF in the redevelopment of ICON, the following industry working groups have been established in consultation with the AQIS/Industry Cargo Consultative Committee (AICCC):

• An industry and community working group has been formed to represent the interests of importers, both occasional and regular; overseas exporters; customs brokers and freight forwarders, and all other ICON users such as quarantine treatment providers.
• A third-party software developer working group has been formed, representing software developers that link import conditions to in-house systems used by the importing, logistics and barrier clearance industries.

Project Status

Software Release 1, the first of four software releases, was formally accepted by DAFF on 20 April 2010 and deployed into production on 27 April 2010. This software release provided the functionality to allow staff to commence the conversion of approximately 18,000 ICON import conditions (cases) into the new BICON format.

The Content Reengineering Team has to date converted all of the Live Animal Imports and Biological Import Program’s import conditions into the BICON format. Conversion of the remaining import conditions will be completed by July 2012 (Cargo) and March 2013 (Plant).

Software Release 2 provides staff with full content authoring and workflow functionality, including previewing and printing output, testing, reporting, and version and change management control.  The final point release of Software Release 2 was formally accepted on 27 April 2011, and will be implemented in production for use by the project’s Content Team on 10 May 2011.

The design of Software Release 3 was formally accepted on 18 February 2011. This release provides the tools for DAFF staff, Industry and public users to search and browse import conditions. This release will provide end users the first opportunity to see the features of the BICON system. Industry working groups provided valuable feedback and input into the requirements and design of software release 3.

Design of Software Release 4 commenced in March 2011. This release will develop the import permit functions in BICON allowing users to apply online securely for permits and DAFF staff to assess and issue import permits. Workshops with industry and community stakeholders to develop the requirements for Software Release 4 commenced in April 2011.

As the project progresses a number of transitional activities, including training, will be undertaken to ensure the benefits of the new BICON system are fully realised and supported by the Department.

Contact us

If you have any comments or suggestions about improving ICON, email the ICON Redevelopment Team or contact us through the AICCC by email.