Overview
The federal government has made the Biosecurity (Reportable Biosecurity Incidents) Determination 2026, which came into force on 20 August 2026. The determination is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
What the determination covers
The determination sets out what counts as a reportable biosecurity incident. Two categories of incident are defined:
- Incidents arising from biosecurity risks associated with relevant goods.
- Incidents arising from interactions between relevant goods and other goods or things.
The determination also sets out the requirements for reporting those incidents.
What it replaces
The Biosecurity (Reportable Biosecurity Incidents) Determination 2016 is repealed by Schedule 1 of the new instrument. The 2026 determination is the operative rule from 20 August 2026.
Key actions
- Read the full determination at https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L01078 to check whether your activities trigger reporting obligations under Parts 2 and 3.
- If the 2016 Determination applied to your business, note that it has been repealed and the 2026 version is now the operative rule from 20 August 2026.
- Contact the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry if there is uncertainty about whether your goods or operations fall within the scope of the new reporting requirements.
This is a plain-English summary for information only, not legal or compliance advice. Always check the official source or consult a qualified professional.