Search

Australia is implementing biosecurity measures for the control of canine influenza virus (CIV) in dogs exported to Australia from approved countries where CIV is present. These include the requirement for all approved countries where CIV is present to vaccinate dogs prior to export to Australia.

The requirement for CIV vaccination was previously implemented following the risk assessment published in November 2013. (...)

Emergency phytosanitary measures for the importation of tomato and capsicum seeds are being introduced to mitigate the biosecurity risk posed by Tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV) .

1. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) regulates international trade in Australian native species, live animals and plants, and species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The Biosecurity Act 2015 applies controls to the importation of all plants, parts of plants and plant products, all animals (including birds, fish and insects), animal products, soil and other items of general quarantine concern.

3. Under the PI Regulations, the importation of asbestos, or goods containing asbestos, is subject to prohibition. The regulations empower the Minister (the WHS Minister) administering the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) to grant permission to import asbestos in certain circumstances.

12. Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 (the Act) and associated regulationsThe regulatory framework implements Australia's obligations under the Basel Convention for the Control of Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal (Basel Convention), as well as the following related agreements and arrangements concerning the transboundary movement of hazardous and other waste:- the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Council Decision C (2001) 107 FINAL, as amended by C(2004)20;- the Waigani Convention (Convention to Ban the Importation into Forum Island Countries of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes and to Control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within the South Pacific Region); and - a bilateral arrangement between Australia and the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor.

5. Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000. The only circumstances in which cetacean imports are allowed are:• Appendix I listed non-live specimens may only be moved internationally in the following circumstances: (i) if the specimen was taken from the animal prior to that species being listed under CITES; (ii) scientific research purposes; (iii) educational purposes; and (iv) exhibition purposes.• Live Appendix I-listed specimens may only be moved internationally for conservation breeding purposes, research and education purposes unless the specimen originated from a CITES registered commercial captive breeding program.

11. The Gene Technology Act 2000 (GT Act), the Gene Technology Regulations 2001 (GT Regulations) and corresponding state and territory laws provide a nationally consistent system to regulate work (dealings) with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Australia. This includes the creation or import, transport, disposal, growth and propagation of GMOs.

12. For health and safety reasons, the importation of goods deemed to be hazardous is prohibited under the Customs Act 1901, the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 (PI Regulations) and the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Only the responsible Minister or an authorised person can grant permission to import banned goods.