CMA has become aware that members have been experiencing issues with BICON and importation of raw materials, samples, or finished products, particularly in the last 12 -24 months. Import requirements are updated regularly and are available on BICON here.

CMA will be meeting with the Animal and Biological Imports Branch within the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Water (DAWE) to discuss how to improve the system for industry users and hopefully put measures in place to prevent costly or time-intensive problems occurring for sponsors and manufacturers.

To seek effective improvements to the system, we need as many examples as possible to understand and resolve the issues and types of problems being encountered. To provide examples and suggested improvements that could be made from your perspective, please email Lucy.Lang@cmaustralia.org.au by 2 November 2021  with the below type of examples and/or information:

Non-identifying information:

-Where you are having trouble finding import conditions in BICON

-How you are searching in BICON, terms entered etc. (this will help us determine what, if any, changes to search terms in BICON may assist)

-Ingredients and level of processing.

-If goods were fully finished/retail ready, or bulk product for further processing/re-packaging in Australia.

-If documentation required by their permit or BICON (if a permit is not required) was provided.

-Challenges with understanding requirements or navigating system.

-Impact it had on your business (time, resources, costs, etc).

Identifying information (not mandatory to provide but preferred if possible to have real-time examples available):

-Entry number(s) for clearance issues where problems have occurred

-Any other specific information relevant to the example such as product name, purpose, company name etc.

CMA provided an informational tech alert on challenges occurring in June 2020 here.