Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has released a discussion paper outlining new biosecurity and imported-food cost-recovery charges for 2026-27. The proposal, circulated to industry on 14 April, would index most existing fees, add new diagnostics charges for international vessels from 1 July 2026 and overhaul rates for cargo testing from 1 November 2026.
![DAFF proposes higher biosecurity fees and confirms ban on Moringa imports]()
Whether you’re an organisation moving staff or an individual planning a long-term stay, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork maze that often accompanies shifting goods and people across Australia’s borders. The company’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) consolidates visa processing, customs documentation and up-to-date regulatory alerts—helping clients stay compliant with evolving DAFF, immigration and import-control rules.
Importers of plant products face the steepest increases, with live-plant quarantine diagnostic fees rising up to 35 per cent. DAFF argues the hikes are necessary to fund surveillance and laboratory upgrades after a 2025 Australian National Audit Office report found a AU$110 million cost-recovery gap. The same notice confirms that Moringa oleifera—often marketed as a “superfood”—is now classified as not permitted for import as a food or ingredient following Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s rejection of its novel-food application. Any consignments containing Moringa referred to the Imported Food Inspection Scheme will henceforth be re-exported or destroyed at the importer’s expense. For global mobility programmes moving personal effects, the higher fees could translate into increased inspection costs for household-goods shipments that include plant products or herbal supplements. Freight forwarders advising corporate relocations should review quotations valid past 1 July 2026 and factor in potential surcharges. DAFF is accepting feedback on the fee schedule until 5 May. Mobility and trade-compliance teams with high-volume import programmes—such as pet-food samples, laboratory reagents or duty-free products—should consider lodging submissions to ensure the final charges reflect realistic clearance times.
Whether you’re an organisation moving staff or an individual planning a long-term stay, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork maze that often accompanies shifting goods and people across Australia’s borders. The company’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) consolidates visa processing, customs documentation and up-to-date regulatory alerts—helping clients stay compliant with evolving DAFF, immigration and import-control rules.
Importers of plant products face the steepest increases, with live-plant quarantine diagnostic fees rising up to 35 per cent. DAFF argues the hikes are necessary to fund surveillance and laboratory upgrades after a 2025 Australian National Audit Office report found a AU$110 million cost-recovery gap. The same notice confirms that Moringa oleifera—often marketed as a “superfood”—is now classified as not permitted for import as a food or ingredient following Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s rejection of its novel-food application. Any consignments containing Moringa referred to the Imported Food Inspection Scheme will henceforth be re-exported or destroyed at the importer’s expense. For global mobility programmes moving personal effects, the higher fees could translate into increased inspection costs for household-goods shipments that include plant products or herbal supplements. Freight forwarders advising corporate relocations should review quotations valid past 1 July 2026 and factor in potential surcharges. DAFF is accepting feedback on the fee schedule until 5 May. Mobility and trade-compliance teams with high-volume import programmes—such as pet-food samples, laboratory reagents or duty-free products—should consider lodging submissions to ensure the final charges reflect realistic clearance times.
