Requirements and standards facility operators must meet
All facility operators must meet:
- general requirements that apply to all transitional facilities
- requirements that apply to specific types of transitional or containment facilities – these are in facility standards
- requirements that apply to the types of goods being imported – these are in import health standards.
If you're handling imported food, you'll also need to meet Food Act 2014 requirements.
Meet general requirements that apply to all transitional facilities
The Transitional Facilities for General Uncleared Risk Goods (TFGEN) is a good starting point to understand your responsibilities. Parts 2 and 3 of the Facility Standard provide general requirements.
Transitional Facilities for General Uncleared Risk Goods (TFGEN): Facility Standard [PDF, 450 KB]
We also have a guidance document to help you understand and meet the requirements.
Guidance document for the TFGEN Facility Standard [PDF, 469 KB]
Requirements for specific types of facilities
Besides TFGEN, there are some specific standards for facilities that handle certain types of goods. For example, there is a facility standard for animal products, another for cats and dogs, and one for biological products.
Check the full list of facility standards
Requirements for the types of goods being imported
MPI has import health standards for:
- air and sea containers
- most products and goods
- live animals.
You'll need to read each standard for the type of goods you're handling to find out the specific requirements.
Sea Containers from All Countries (SEACO): Import Health Standard [PDF, 986 KB]
Air Containers from All Countries (MPI-AIRCON-ALL): Import Health Standard [PDF, 508 KB]
Find all import health standards
Meet Food Act requirements for food-related products
If your facility handles food or food-related products, you will need to meet requirements under the Food Act 2014.
Find out about food importing requirements
Ensure your operating procedures are compliant
Facility operators are responsible for ensuring their operating procedures are designed and implemented to manage compliance with biosecurity requirements.
MPI will make verification visits to check whether facility operators are ensuring the requirements specified in TFGEN and other relevant regulations are being met. The frequency of verifications is based on previous performance, biosecurity risk, and complexity unique to each transitional facility. Visits may be notified in advance or unannounced.
During verification, facility operators are requested to be present to provide evidence of compliance and conformance with the facility operating procedures.
There is a charge for verification visits.
Fees and charges that apply to transitional and containment facilities
Extra information about sea containers
Sea container quarantine declaration [DOCX, 19 KB]
