Imported food
(Updated April 2012)
All food imported into Australia must comply with relevant standards in the Food Standards Code. Food importers are responsible for ensuring food they import meets all the requirements of the code.
Imported Food Inspection Scheme
Food entering Australia is subject to the Imported Food Control Act 1992 and the Imported Food Control Regulations 1993. Under this legislation imported food is inspected and controlled using a risk-based border inspection program called the Imported Food Inspection Scheme, which is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
Under the scheme FSANZ provides risk assessment advice to DAFF on the level of public health risk associated with certain foods. DAFF is responsible for inspecting and sampling imported foods to ensure they comply with the Code.
As with all countries, it is not practical to inspect every imported food item. What food is inspected and how often it’s inspected is based on risk assessments and information gathered on different foods.
There are three classifications for foods coming into Australia:
Risk food - After conducting a risk assessment, FSANZ provides advice to DAFF on which foods may pose a high or medium risk to public health. These are known as risk foods, which are inspected and tested against a pre-determined list of potential hazards including microbial and chemical hazards.
Surveillance food - All other foods that are not risk foods are in this category as they pose a low risk to public health and safety. Foods in this category are normally inspected at a lower rate than risk-categorised food. However, this inspection rate is increased if a surveillance food fails inspection.
Compliance agreement food - Food importers are able to enter into a Food Import Compliance Agreement with DAFF. This arrangement offers food importers an alternative to inspection and testing of their products at the border. The agreement is an assurance based regulatory arrangement undertaken through formal recognition and audit of and importer’s food safety management system by DAFF.
More information about imported food inspection, including details about the frequency of inspection is published in DAFF's Imported Food Notices.
State and territory agencies
State and territory departments and agencies are responsible for enforcing the Code. Complaints about potentially non-compliant food, including imported food can be directed to your relevant state or territory agency.
More information
Enforcement agencies
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) (or call 1800 020 504)
Australia’s safe food system
Importing food from New Zealand