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About Biosecurity Australia
Who we are
Biosecurity Australia is the Australian Government agency that 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.
Biosecurity Australia has three branches:
Further details of the organisation can be found under organisational information and contacts.
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.
Biosecurity Australia works closely with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) and other government agencies involved with biosecurity. AQIS is the operational arm of quarantine. It provides quarantine services at Australia's international borders for imports of agricultural produce and inspection and certification for exports of animal and plant products.
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.