What this instrument does
The federal government has registered the Biosecurity (Managing Human Remains) Instrument 2026 on 4 September 2026. This instrument replaces and formally repeals the previous Biosecurity (Managing Human Remains) Instrument 2016.
What the instrument covers
The instrument sets out biosecurity requirements relating to:
- human remains brought into Australian territory
- individuals who die in transit or on arrival
Administering framework
The instrument is administered by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
The 2016 instrument
The Biosecurity (Managing Human Remains) Instrument 2016 has been formally repealed by this new 2026 version. The source document does not detail what changed between the two versions.
Key actions
- Read the full text of the Biosecurity (Managing Human Remains) Instrument 2026 at https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L01166 to confirm current procedures still comply.
- Check whether internal policies and documentation still reference the old 2016 instrument - if so, update them to reference the 2026 version.
This is a plain-English summary for information only, not legal or compliance advice. Always check the official source or consult a qualified professional.