Information about importing plant based animal feed

What is classed as animal food?

Animal food is defined as any substance, other than veterinary therapeutics that is ingested orally by animals. Animal feeds can include stock feed, pet food, aquaculture feed, baits, and supplements. Animal feeds do not include ointments, bedding or other materials that are not ingested.

Types of animal feed

Stock feed and feed supplements include all plant based products intended to be used as feed, or to supplement feed, for livestock. These products include pelletised stock feeds, grain, oilseed and plant meals, oils, vitamins and other dietary supplements.

Import permits for stock feeds and stock feed supplements containing biological material, such as yeast, spirulina, dairy and egg products are assessed by the Biological Imports Program.
 
Pet food is all feeds and supplements for large and small pets. These products include bird food, aquarium food, dog and cat food/biscuits, as well as other plant products/ingredients to be used in pet food manufacturing in Australia.

Import permits for pet foods containing biological material, such as meat, tallow, yeast, spirulina, dairy and egg products are assessed by the Biological Imports Program.

Aquaculture feed includes all plant based feeds and ingredients used for aquaculture purposes. Import permits for aquaculture feed containing biological material, such as fish meal, fish oil, yeast, spirulina, dairy and egg products are assessed by the Biological Imports Program.

Baits and therapeutics

Baits used to attract and/or poison pests may also be of quarantine concern. All baits on a plant based carrier require an import permit. Import permits for stock feeds and stock feed supplements containing biological material, such as tallow, fish meal, yeast, spirulina, dairy and egg products are assessed by the Biological Imports Program.

Veterinary therapeutics have a variety of uses such as the treatment of injuries and disease. Veterinary therapeutics are classed by AQIS as products which require registration with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. Veterinary therapeutics in the form of tinctures, tablets and capsules containing AQIS approved plant excipients can be imported without the need for an import permit; therapeutics containing restricted plant ingredients will require an import permit. All other orally administered products containing ingredients of plant, animal or microbial origin are classed as animal supplements and require an import permit.

For more information please see the ICON case for Veterinary therapeutics and medicines.

Why is AQIS interested in these products?

Animal feeds pose a high biosecurity risk because they are fed directly to animals and may be used in rural environments.  This provides a direct pathway for exotic animal and plant pests and disease to enter and establish in Australia.

Importing requirements

An AQIS import permit is required for all animal food products that contain plant, animal or microbial ingredients.  These include canned/retorted pet food, dry or semi-moist pet food, pet food for small animals, stock feeds and stockfeed supplements. This includes products that are imported for human consumption but may be diverted to an animal feed end use.

Why do I need an import permit?

Applying for an import permit allows AQIS to individually assess your product to ensure that it will not pose a biosecurity risk to Australia.

It is also a legal requirement under the Quarantine Proclamation 1998 (Division 2, Section 33).

An import permit is required regardless of the quantity you wish to import, and must be obtained prior to consignments being shipped from overseas.

How do I apply for an import permit?

Below are links to the import permit application, and information that will assist you to complete and submit your forms.

Note: You should also read the information below before completing your import permit application.

Other considerations when applying for an import permit

Technical information is required for all animal feed import permit applications, including those submitted to reassess a previously imported product. On application for an import permit you should also submit the following:

• Manufacturer's questionnaire
  This questionnaire must be completed by the product’s manufacturer and submitted with your import application.
  Questionnaire 
  
• A manufacturer’s declaration providing:

o A complete list of ingredients
o A flow chart outlining the production process:  the flow chart must summarise all steps in the production process. This may include filtering, heating (please include temperatures and durations), addition of chemicals, purification or fermentation. All treatments should include a measurement of the parameter e.g. pressure of 300psi, core temperature of 100°C, and the duration of the treatment e.g. 30 minutes.
o Quality assurance/quality control procedures
o Prevention of cross-contamination prior to and during production.

Please note: The manufacturer's declaration must meet the requirements under the Minimum Documentary Requirements Policy.

AQIS reserves the right to request information in addition to that outlined above once the import permit application is submitted.

Additional requirements for Stock feed

Imported plant based stock feeds provide a direct pathway for animal and plant pathogens to enter Australia. This can happen in the production phase of the product and can be caused by contamination. There are several animal diseases which, if allowed to enter Australia could have significant impacts on our livestock production industries, some examples of these are:

• Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE’s such as “Mad cow Disease”)
• Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)
• Newcastle Disease (ND)
• Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD).

Because of the potential quarantine risks associated with imported stock feed, rigorous assessments are carried out on these products which may include questionnaires, desk audits and site auditing. For additional information please see the ICON cases for Stock feed supplements and Stock feed of plant origin.

Where can I find further information?

Further information can be found on the frequently asked questions about importing plant products page.

You can search for other plant products on ICON.

Contact us

If you require further information about animal feed or any of the other products listed on this page or would like to provide feedback to AQIS, contact Plant Products in Canberra on:

Ph:  + 61 2 6272 3917
Fax: + 61 2 6272 3745
Mail:  GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601
or AQIS Plant Quarantine