The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment runs a Compliance-Based Intervention Scheme (CBIS; formerly known as the Compliance-Based Inspection Scheme, or the Plant Product Pathway Q-ruler, or the Continuous Sampling Plan) for the importation of selected plant products to Australia.
The scheme rewards importers of these products who demonstrate consistent compliance with Australia’s biosecurity requirements with risk-based inspection rates. Compliant importers benefit from the CBIS through smoother clearance of goods at the border and reduced regulatory costs.
To qualify for risk-based inspection under the CBIS, importers will need to:
- import an eligible product under an appropriate tariff (see tables below)
- lodge the entry in line mode
- meet import conditions
- meet the requirements for repeated compliance
- lodge the entry with the correct AQIS Commodity Code (ACC) where required
Important: importers and brokers are required to lodge the relevant ACCs in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) or the third-party software being used to interface with the ICS.
Eligible plant products
The following plant products have since been added to the scheme:
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Dried fruit, vegetables and herbs
| Product | Tariff code | Date added to CBIS | Qualification number | Risk-based inspection rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allspice of the genus Pimenta (dried, neither crushed nor ground) | 0904.21.00.03 | July 2016 | 5 | 10% |
| Apples (dried) | 0813.30.00.31 | November 2015 | 5 | 10% |
| Apricots (dried) | 0813.10.00.29 | July 2013 | 10 | 10% |
| Capsicum and chilli of the genus Capsicum (dried, neither crushed nor ground) | 0904.21.00 | July 2016 | 5 | 10% |
| Capsicum and chilli of the genus Capsicum and allspice (dried, crushed or ground) | 0904.22.00.05 | August 2021 | 5 | 30% |
| Coconut (desiccated) | 0801.11.00.34 | November 2015 | 5 | 10% |
| Coconut products (dried, excluding desiccated) ** | 0801.12.00.40 0801.19.00.42 |
August 2021 | 4 | 20% |
| Dates (dried), including permitted Ziziphus species | 0804.10.00 | November 2020 | 10 | 10% |
| Garlic (dried, crushed or ground) | 0712.90.90.78 | August 2021 | 5 | 30% |
| Ginger (dried, crushed or ground) | 0910.12.00.12 | August 2021 | 5 | 30% |
| Grapes (dried), includes sultanas and currants | 0806.20.00.29 0806.20.00.30 0806.20.00.31 |
August 2014 | 5 | 10% |
| Onions (dried) | 0712.20.00.68 | February 2020 | 3 | 10% |
| Pepper of the genus Piper (dried, neither crushed or ground) | 0904.11.00.34 | July 2016 | 5 | 10% |
| Permitted species of mushrooms and truffles (dried) | 0712.31.00.70 0712.32.00.71 0712.33.00.72 0712.39.00.77 |
December 2020 | 3 | 33% |
| Prunes (dried) | 0813.20.00.30 | November 2015 | 5 | 10% |
| Saffron | 0910.20.00.02 | July 2016 | 3 | 10% |
| Turmeric (dried, crushed or ground) | 0910.30.00.03 | August 2021 | 5 | 30% |
Fresh fruit and vegetables
| Product | Tariff code | Date added to CBIS | Qualification number | Risk-based inspection rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus mushrooms (fresh/ chilled, from New Zealand only) | 0709.51.00.60 | February 2020 | 7 | 25% |
| Avocado (fresh, from New Zealand only) | 0804.40.00.21 | October 2017 | 5 | 50% |
| Capsicum and peppers of the genus Capsicum annuum (fresh, from New Zealand) | 0709.60.00.27 | August 2019 | 5 | 25% |
| Cherries of the species Prunus avium (fresh, from New Zealand) | 0809.29.00.22 | August 2019 | 5 | 50% |
| Cherries of the species Prunus avium (fresh, from the USA) | 0809.29.00.22 | June 2017 | 5 | 25% |
| Dates (fresh, from the USA) | 0804.10.00.10 | July 2013 | 10 | 10% |
| Chilled durian segments (from Malaysia only) | 0810.60.00.52 | May 2017 | 3 | 10% |
| Immature coconuts (fresh) | 0801.12.00.40 0801.19.00.42 |
August 2019 | 5 | 25% |
| Immature corn (fresh) | 0709.99.00.39 | February 2020 | 3 | 20% |
| Lemons and limes (fresh, from the USA only) | 0805.50.00.50 | November 2017 | 5 | 25% |
| Mandarins (fresh, from Israel only) | 0805.21.00.27 | January 2019 | 5 | 25% |
| Mandarins (fresh, from USA only) | 0805.21.00.27 | December 2020 | 7 | 50% |
| Mature coconuts – husk removed and prayer nuts (fresh) | 0801.12.00.40 0801.19.00.42 |
August 2021 | 5 | 25% |
| Mushrooms and truffles (fresh/chilled)- permitted species only | 0709.59.00.62 | February 2020 | 7 | 25% |
| Oranges (fresh, from the USA only) | 0805.10.00.23 | August 2019 | 10 | 50% |
| Permitted stone fruits (fresh, from New Zealand) - apricots | 0809.10.00.05 | August 2019 | 5 | 50% |
| Permitted stone fruits (fresh, from New Zealand) - peaches including nectarines | 0809.30.00.07 | August 2019 | 5 | 50% |
| Permitted stone fruits (fresh, from New Zealand) - plums or prunes, pluots or plumcots | 0809.40.00.08 | August 2019 | 5 | 50% |
| Permitted stone fruits (fresh, from the USA) - apricots | 0809.10.00.05 | June 2017 | 5 | 25% |
| Permitted stone fruits (fresh, from the USA) - peaches including nectarines | 0809.30.00.07 | June 2017 | 5 | 25% |
| Permitted stone fruits (fresh, from the USA) - plums or approved interspecific stone fruit hybrids | 0809.40.00.08 | June 2017 | 5 | 25% |
| Peas of the species Pisum sativum (fresh, from China only) | 0708.10.00.18 | January 2019 | 5 | 25% |
| Persimmons (fresh, from New Zealand only) | 0810.70.00.57 | December 2020 | 7 | 50% |
| Pomegranates (fresh, from the USA) | 0810.90.00.59 | August 2021 | 5 | 25% |
| Table grapes (fresh, from the USA) | 0806.10.00.28 | May 2020 | 5 | 25% |
| Loose and truss tomatoes (fresh, from New Zealand only) | 0702.00.00.03 | December 2020 | 7 | 33% |
Nuts
| Product | Tariff code | Date added to CBIS | Qualification number | Risk-based inspection rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almonds (raw, shell removed) | 0802.12.00.08 | July 2015 | 5 | 50% |
| Brazil nuts (raw, shell removed) | 0801.22.00.37 | July 2015 | 5 | 50% |
| Cashews (raw, in shell and shelled) | 0801.31.00.38 0801.32.00.39 |
August 2014 | 5 | 50% |
| Hazelnuts (raw, shell removed) | 0802.22.00.10 | July 2015 | 5 | 50% |
| Macadamias (raw, shell removed) | 0802.62.00.25 | July 2015 | 5 | 50% |
| Pistachios (raw, shell removed) | 0802.52.00.23 | July 2015 | 5 | 50% |
| Walnuts (raw, shell removed) | 0802.32.00.12 | July 2015 | 5 | 50% |
Grains and seeds
| Product | Tariff code | Date added to CBIS | Qualification number | Risk-based inspection rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green coffee beans (for processing) | 0901.1 | July 2013 | 10 | 50% |
| Malted grains | 1107.10.00.26 1107.20.00.27 |
June 2015 | 5 | 10% |
| Sesame seed (hulled) | 1207.40.00.11 | July 2013 | 10 | 50% |
Other plant products
| Product | Tariff code | Date added to CBIS | Qualification number | Risk-based inspection rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peat or sphagnum peat with or without approved additives (from countries free from foot and mouth disease (FMD)) [Defined as the material that accumulates in the lower levels of a peat bog]. |
2703.00.00.07 | August 2021 | 7 | 25% |
Additional plant and animal products are currently being assessed for the CBIS, with the aim to add more products in the near future.
Qualifying for risk-based inspection rates
The scheme is applied to eligible products through the Agriculture Import Management System (AIMS), where importers that meet the criteria are able to qualify for risk-based rates of intervention. Where the department specifies the use of an AQIS Commodity Code (ACC), the broker must enter the appropriate code in the Integrated Cargo System when lodging the consignment.
To qualify for the risk-based inspection rate, importers must initially pass a defined number of consecutive document assessments and inspections.
This qualification number varies (see tables above), depending on the risks associated with the product.
AQIS Commodity Codes
For some eligible products on the CBIS, a four-digit AQIS Commodity Code (ACC) is required for the scheme to be applied through AIMS. An ACC is also required when lodging consignments that have been pre-cleared offshore under the Offshore Pre-shipment Inspection (OPI) program. The ACC must be entered by importers and brokers when lodging eligible consignments in the Integrated Cargo System. Consignments lodged without a required ACC may remain unprocessed.
Required ACCs are published under the Import Conditions within relevant BICON cases to assist brokers and importers when lodging consignments. They are also outlined in the tables below:
|
Product |
Required ACC |
|---|---|
| Agaricus mushrooms (fresh/chilled, from New Zealand only) | NIL |
| Avocado (fresh, from New Zealand only) | NIL |
| Capsicum and peppers of the genus Capsicum annuum (fresh, from New Zealand only) | NIL |
| Cherries of the species Prunus avium (fresh, from New Zealand) | NZCH |
| Cherries of the species Prunus avium (fresh, from the USA) | USCH |
| Coconut products, excluding desiccated or goods NOT requiring inspection (dried) | COCO |
| Crushed or ground chilli, capsicum, and allspice not in retail-ready packaging (dried) | POWD |
| Crushed or ground ginger not in retail-ready packaging (dried) | POWD |
| Crushed or ground turmeric not in retail-ready packaging (dried) | POWD |
| Crushed or ground garlic not in retail-ready packaging (dried) | POWD |
| Dates (dried, from all countries)- including permitted Ziziphus species | DATE |
| Dates (fresh, from the USA only)- Phoenix dactylifera | PHNX |
| Immature coconuts (fresh) | IMMA |
| Immature corn (fresh) | CORN |
| Lemons and limes (fresh, from the USA only) | LEMO |
| Mandarins (fresh, from the USA only) | NIL |
| Mature coconuts with the husk removed or in the form of a prayer nut (fresh) | IMMA |
| Mushrooms (fresh/chilled) – permitted species only | MUSH |
| Oranges (fresh, from the USA only) | ORAN |
| Onions (dried) | NIL |
| Permitted species of mushrooms (dried) | MUSH |
| Permitted species of truffles (dried) | TRUF |
| Permitted stone fruits including apricots, nectarines, peaches, plumcots, plums, pluots or prunes (fresh, from New Zealand) | NZSF |
| Permitted stone fruits including apricots, nectarines, peaches, plums or approved interspecific stone fruit hybrids (fresh, from the USA) | USSF |
| Persimmons (fresh, from New Zealand only) | NIL |
| Pomegranates (fresh, from the USA only) | POME |
| Sphagnum peat with or without approved additives (from countries free from foot and mouth disease (FMD)) | PEAT |
| Truffles (fresh/chilled) – permitted species only | TRUF |
| Table grapes (fresh, from the USA only) | NIL |
| Loose and truss tomatoes (fresh, from New Zealand only) | NIL |
Exclusions
Mandatory inspections are still required for all consignments that are:
- lodged in container mode and unable to be recognised by the system
- lodged without an ACC where one is required
- processed via the Automatic Entry Processing (AEP) scheme
- restricted due to other system rules or biosecurity concerns
- out of scope for this arrangement or do not comply with the import conditions on entry.
Out of scope commodities
The following list includes examples of goods that are not eligible for the CBIS. These goods should not be processed under CBIS:
- Blanched almonds
- Biodegradable plant pots and urns
- Fresh blueberries from New Zealand
- Chilled durian segments from Thailand
- Coir peat, pure or with additives (excluding sphagnum peat and peat/coir mixes)
- Date species not permitted on BICON
- Dietary supplements and natural medicines of plant origin
- Dried avocado products
- Dried citrus products
- Dried coconut products where the end use is not for human consumption**
- Dried powdered products in retail-ready packaging (up to 500g per package)
- Fresh coconut meat (coconut apples, young coconut meat, etc.)
- Fresh dates from MENA countries*
- Fresh tangerines, clementines, wilkings and similar citrus hybrids
- Fresh or whole turmeric
- Fresh Pimenta
- Fresh sloes
- Fresh mature coconuts with husk intact
- Fresh mature corn
- Frozen durian (whole)
- Highly processed coconut products (powders, milk, oil, etc.), canned or frozen coconut products**
- Malt extract and malt flour
- Restricted medicinal or highly processed dried mushrooms
- Nuts that are roasted or in shell (excluding in shell cashews)
- Prohibited Ziziphus species
- Sphagnum peat from countries with foot and mouth disease (FMD) (including products with restricted additives)
- Sphagnum peat moss (top spongy layer)
- Roasted coffee
- Roasted sesame seeds or sesame seed with the end use for sowing
*MENA countries include: Egypt, Israel, Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Risk-based inspection rates
Once an importer has qualified under the scheme, the compliance of any future consignments will continue to be monitored under risk-based inspection rates. The risk-based inspection rates are applied at the line level and range from 10 to 50 % frequency depending on the:
- product type (see tables above)
- end use
- biosecurity risk posed by the product
- compliance history of the pathway and the importer
- other measures applied on the pathway (treatments)
Risk-based inspection rates are based on the biosecurity risk currently posed by the products and may be subject to change at any time.
The inspection rate is applied as a ‘probability of inspection’ individually to each eligible line within a consignment by the department’s entry management systems. This means that an individual line may be selected to be inspected or not inspected. For example, if the inspection rate is 10 per cent for that product then every line has a 10 per cent chance of being directed for an inspection.
If non-compliance is detected during the inspection or documentation assessment, the importer will return to 100 per cent intervention until they have once again demonstrated compliance and met the number of inspections required to re-qualify for the risk-based inspection rate.
Status of CBIS consignments in Integrated Cargo System
Customs brokers and freight forwarders importing under the Compliance-Based Intervention Scheme may need to be aware of how the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) will display status for a CBIS consignment.
Entries that contain a line of goods eligible for the CBIS that have been selected for inspection will automatically switch to a “CONDCLEAR” status in the ICS immediately after the entry is lodged.
The status changes before a documentation assessment has been conducted and before details of the AIMS directions associated with the consignment are sent to clients. The status will change to CONDCLEAR even if other lines in the entry are also subject to biosecurity control.
The CONDCLEAR status means that clearance remains subject to biosecurity conditions. The CONDCLEAR status allows the consignment to be moved to an appropriate approved arrangements site for inspection once the biosecurity direction has been issued, but no part of a consignment with a CONDCLEAR status can be released from biosecurity control until the status is changed to CLEAR.
Details of the conditions associated with a CONDCLEAR status will be emailed out as AIMS directions. A CLEAR status will only be obtained once the biosecurity concerns for all lines have been addressed through documentation assessments, inspections and/or treatments (as required).
Further information
For more information on the Compliance-Based Intervention Scheme you can email Imports (Tier 2 -Plant CBIS) or telephone 1800 900 090.