Overview
The Biosecurity Regulations 2026 is a new set of regulations made under the Biosecurity Act 2015, administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The regulations commenced on 11 September 2026 and are registered on the Federal Register of Legislation at legislation.gov.au/F2026L01194.
What the regulations cover
The Biosecurity Regulations 2026 set out rules for managing biosecurity risks associated with goods and conveyances - aircraft and vessels - entering Australia. The regulations address the following areas:
- Notice requirements: Rules about notice that must be given before goods are unloaded.
- Isolation of goods: Rules for isolating goods that arrive in Australia.
- Import risk analysis: Processes for assessing the biosecurity risk of imported goods.
- Permit applications: Requirements for applying for permits to bring in conditionally non-prohibited goods.
- Pre-arrival reporting: Reporting obligations for aircraft and vessels before they arrive in Australia.
- Approved arrangements: Rules in Chapter 5 covering the suspension and revocation of approved arrangements under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
Key actions
- Importers of goods into Australia can check the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website or the Federal Register of Legislation at legislation.gov.au/F2026L01194 to review the full text of the Biosecurity Regulations 2026 and confirm what notice and permit requirements apply to their goods.
- Operators of aircraft or vessels arriving in Australia can review Chapters 3 and 4 of the regulations at legislation.gov.au/F2026L01194 to confirm pre-arrival reporting obligations.
- Holders of an approved arrangement under the Biosecurity Act 2015 can review Chapter 5 of the regulations for the rules on suspension and revocation of those arrangements.
- The full regulations are available to download or order as a print copy from legislation.gov.au/F2026L01194.
This is a plain-English summary for information only, not legal or compliance advice. Always check the official source or consult a qualified professional.