Biosecurity (Quarantine)

What is Biosecurity?

"Biosecurity" as defined by the Oxford Dictionary, refers to the procedures or measures designed to protect a population against harmful biological or biochemical substances.

Biosecurity has played a critical role in reducing risk and shaping Australia to become one of the few countries in the world to remain free from the world’s most invasive pests and diseases. As such, the import of biological goods into Australia and the use of these imported goods are heavily regulated by the Department of Agriculture. This includes samples which have a biological origin (plant, animal, microbial) and items which have components of biological origin. A list of examples is below:

All Genetic Material - DNA/RNA/cDNA
Cell lines
Tissues/Fluids
Blood
Culture media
Buffers which may contain biological material such as enzymes
Diagnostic Kits eg. ELISA kits
Laboratory Reagents eg. Proteins, peptides, lipids, hormones, enzymes

The Research Compliance Team within the Monash University Office of Research Ethics and Integrity (OREI) strives to help researchers understand and meet their obligations under the Biosecurity Act 2015 which determines how biosecurity threats to plant, animal and human health in Australia and its external territories are managed.

The Biosecurity Act 2015 (Biosecurity Act) commenced on 16 June 2016. It is co-administered by the Ministers responsible for Agriculture and Water Resources, and Health.
There are two regulations made under the Act:
- The Biosecurity Regulations 2016 (administered by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment); and
- The Biosecurity (Human Health) Regulations 2016 (administered by the Department of Health).
The Department of Agriculture's Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) stipulates what goods can and cannot be imported into Australia and whether a Department of Agriculture-issued import permit will be required.
Goods and conveyances travelling to Australia are subject to biosecurity control as soon as they enter Australian airspace or the coastal sea of these areas which generally extends 12 nautical miles (NM) from the coast.
Post-entry conditions relating to imported goods may be imposed and vary depending on the species of origin of the goods, the country of export, and/or the end use.
Special conditions apply to imports into Australian external territories such as Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Norfolk Island.
Find out more about the framework of legislation, regulations, policies and procedures that govern biosecurity in Australia.

Biosecurity at Monash University

Quick Links

Gene Technology

Resources for submitting to the Monash University Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), and information on the Gene Technology Legislative Scheme.

Animal Ethics

Resources for submitting to Monash AECs and ensuring responsible and ethical treatment of animals in research and education.

International Research Safeguards

Resources for understanding legislation surrounding Export Controls, Sanctions and Critical Technology

Research Ethics and Integrity

Research Ethics and Integrity

Biosecurity (Quarantine)