MEDIA STATEMENT: Biosecurity Risk Material on new vehicles arriving in Australia

We are currently seeing an increase in Biosecurity Risk Material (BRM) on new vehicles arriving in Australia. This includes soil, plant debris, seeds and live insects which are not present in Australia.

Such exotic pests and diseases if established in Australia are capable of damaging our natural environment, destroying our food production and agriculture industries, impacting our economy and some could change our way of life.

The department understands that the increase in BRM on new vehicles imported to Australia is likely due to a number of commercial factors, including changes to shipping patterns due to COVID.

For example, some vehicles may be stored in paddocks or parking lots overseas where they are inadvertently collecting BRM while they are awaiting loading onto vessels for export to Australia.

Vehicles that are found to be contaminated with such biosecurity risk material require treatment to eliminate the risk before they are released.

Industry is working with their treatment providers to ensure the risks are being managed in the most effective way so the vehicles can be released to waiting customers as quickly as possible while keeping Australia safe.

The department is working closely with the industry to help it manage the increased levels of BRM requiring treatment on imported vehicles without compromising Australia’s biosecurity.

Any inquiries regarding vehicle delivery should be directed towards that vehicle company or alternatively their industry association at [email protected].