BICON is the Department of Agriculture's Biosecurity Import Conditions database, covering 20,000+ commodities. It states whether goods are permitted, the treatments and certificates required, and whether an import permit is needed — search it by exact product and origin country before shipping.

Can I import wooden furniture or timber packaging into Australia?

Yes, but timber must be bark-free and treated, and packaging must comply with ISPM 15. Untreated timber is prohibited, and contamination with bark or soil leads to treatment, re-export or destruction at the importer's cost.

What is BMSB season and does it affect my shipment?

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug seasonal measures run roughly September to April for cargo from target risk countries. Targeted goods such as vehicles and machinery must be treated by approved providers before shipment and carry treatment certificates.

What happens if my goods fail biosecurity inspection?

DAFF can order treatment (at your cost), hold the goods, direct re-export, or destroy them — destruction costs are charged to the importer. DAFF operates on full cost-recovery, so budget for inspection and treatment fees.

Biosecurity & the BICON Database

Why biosecurity is strict

Australia's isolation has kept out foot-and-mouth disease, rabies, many fruit flies and other pests. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) operates one of the world's toughest border biosecurity regimes to protect a ~AUD 70B+ agriculture sector and unique ecosystems.

BICON — the source of truth

BICON (Biosecurity Import Conditions system, bicon.agriculture.gov.au) is DAFF's official database of import conditions for 20,000+ commodities. Before importing anything of biological origin — food, plants, animals, timber, used machinery, personal effects — search BICON for your exact product and country of origin (see the guides to importing food and importing furniture). It will tell you:

Whether the goods are permitted, conditionally permitted, or prohibited
Required treatments (fumigation, heat treatment, irradiation)
Required documentation (import permit, phytosanitary certificate, packing declaration)
Inspection requirements

High-risk categories

Category	Typical conditions
Fresh fruit & vegetables	Almost always prohibited
Meat, dairy, eggs	Mostly prohibited or heavily restricted; commercial products from approved countries only
Honey & bee products	Declare; risk of American foulbrood
Seeds, grains, nuts	Raw/unprocessed generally prohibited (Khapra beetle risk — including raw rice and unpopped popcorn)
Live plants	Prohibited without permits
Timber, wooden goods, bamboo	Bark-free, treated (ISPM 15 for packaging); untreated timber prohibited
Used machinery, vehicles, equipment	Must be clean, free of soil/organic matter; often steam-cleaned
Soil	Prohibited outright
Used footwear, camping, sporting gear	Must be thoroughly cleaned of all soil and organic matter

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB)

Seasonal measures run roughly September to April for cargo from high-risk countries (e.g., parts of Europe, Asia, Americas).
Targeted goods (vehicles, machinery, parts) must be treated (heat or fumigation) by approved providers before shipment and accompanied by treatment certificates.
DAFF has moved to full cost-recovery for biosecurity activities — budget for inspection and treatment fees.

Documentation commonly required

Packing declaration (statement goods are clean, free of soil/plant/animal matter) — template on agriculture.gov.au
Phytosanitary certificate (plant products, from exporting country's authority)
Health certificate (animal products)
Import permit (required for many conditionally permitted goods — apply before shipping)
Treatment certificate (BMSB and other mandated treatments)

What happens at the border

All consignments screened (X-ray, detector dogs, targeted inspection).
Non-compliant goods: ordered treatment (at your cost), held, re-exported, or destroyed. Destruction costs are charged to the importer.