Changes to biosecurity and imported food fees and charges

Share your feedback on updates to fees, charges, and legislation for biosecurity and imported food regulation.

Each year we review fees and charges for biosecurity and imported food regulatory activities to support ongoing alignment of the cost of delivery. In 2026-27 we are proposing:

• Increases to fees and charges, as per indexation clauses for most of our fees and charges

• changes to legislation to improve current cost recovery arrangements

• the introduction of some new charge points.

Most of these changes are proposed to begin on 1 July 2026.

We want your feedback on these proposed changes. Your input will help us understand the potential impacts these changes will have on you and inform final decisions.

What's changing

In 2026-27 we are increasing most cost recovery charges by indexation of 3.8% and making amendments to legislation to improve cost recovery. The exception to this, is three charge points related to companion animals which we are proposing to increase above indexation.

The proposed legislative amendments introduce new charges for live garden snails housed at the post entry quarantine facility, remove fees no longer applied for outside ordinary hours import permit assessment and horse husbandry, revise provisions for avian imports and include provisions to support improved charging for diagnostic activities undertaken in relation to vessels.

We intend to improve cost recovery for diagnostic activity undertaken in relation to cargo, through a revised fee structure for existing diagnostic activities the department undertakes. Most diagnostics activities will be listed per activity with a description of what the fee covers and the rate it will be charged.

Pending decision of government, these changes are proposed to commence 1 November 2026.