The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is committed to the management of biosecurity risks associated with imported goods, in line with Australia’s international obligations.
In 2016, the department commenced an investigation into suspected breaches of biosecurity border controls for imported uncooked prawns with compliance action taken against a number of entities.
Import conditions for uncooked prawns were suspended for 6 months following the white spot disease outbreak in Queensland in December 2016.
News and media
See our latest news and announcements. Discover more about what we do.
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We are a new department. You can still access media releases and our online channels from before we merged.
Tuesday, 23 February 2021
Monday, 22 February 2021
A Sydney pair who bound reptiles in stockings and stuffed them in speakers and toy trucks before attempting to post them overseas have been found guilty.
Monday, 22 February 2021
A new guide has been developed to help agricultural and environmental land managers address the growing threat posed by feral cats.
The Glovebox Guide for the Management of Feral Cats provides information to support the control of feral cat populations in Australia and is now available in both electronic and hardcopy form providing information to support the control of feral cat populations in Australia.
Friday, 19 February 2021
Today’s 7th Australia-Japan High Level Dialogue has agreed on progressing the Statement of Intent (SOI) on Agri-Food Value Chains.
Department secretary Andrew Metcalfe AO, who co-chaired the Dialogue virtually with Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Vice Minister Osawa, said the SOI was now a step closer for consideration by Australia and Japan’s agriculture ministers.
Thursday, 11 February 2021
The RTT 3D X-ray unit at the Melbourne mail centre recently discovered 107 live succulent plants with soil concealed in socks. The succulents were destroyed as they posed an unacceptable biosecurity risk.
Friday, 15 January 2021
UPDATE: 7:30PM AEST 15 January.
Following an investigation, the department has concluded that Joe the Pigeon is highly likely to be Australian and does not
present a biosecurity risk.
The department is satisfied that the bird’s leg band is a fraudulent copy of a legitimate leg band.
No further action will be taken by the department in relation to this matter.
Monday, 21 December 2020
One of Canberra’s last standing public service cafeterias has become the 389th place to be included on the Commonwealth Heritage List.
The West Portal Cafeteria on Constitution Avenue in Reid is a rare example of a bygone era in Canberra’s history, a time when public service officers could take a break from national administration to dine on roast beef sandwiches, sausage rolls and scones in purpose-built spaces.
Friday, 18 December 2020
Evidence-based agricultural, water, and environmental policy received an important boost today with the signing of a new strategic partnership between the department and Charles Sturt University.
Wednesday, 16 December 2020
The independent panel has released its draft report on the review of Australia’s agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals regulatory system. Public comments are invited by 26 February 2021.
Ensuring farmers have access to agvet chemicals that are both safe and effective is crucial to our agricultural and livestock industries, the community and the environment.
The panel’s draft recommendations strengthen the identity, vision and leadership of agvet chemicals regulation, and provide for a regulatory system fit for the next 30 years.
Tuesday, 15 December 2020
Despite a global increase in khapra beetle detections at international borders, the strength of our biosecurity system means Australia maintains freedom from this serious pest.