Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
Encyclopedia
The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) is the Australian government agency responsible for enforcing Australian quarantine
laws. AQIS forms part of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
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AQIS’s import and export inspection and certification is essential to maintaining Australia’s highly favourable animal, plant and human health status and access to export markets. Quarantine controls at Australia’s borders minimise the risk of exotic pests and diseases to protect Australia’s agriculture industries and environment. AQIS does this by specialist Federal law enforcement officers known as Quarantine & Exports Inspectors, or 'Quarantine Officers'.
Along with Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ)
AQIS administers the Imported Food Programme, which ensures that food commercially imported into Australia meets Australia’s Quarantine Standards and the Food Standards Code.
AQIS also provides inspection and certification for a range of agricultural products exported from Australia, to ensure compliance with overseas countries importation requirements.
is a prescribed agency within the Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry. Biosecurity Australia provides policy advice to AQIS concerning the importation of quarantine risk material to Australia when requested by AQIS. AQIS ultimately sets the rules concerning the imports, not Biosecurity Australia (read the Quarantine Act 1908).
Quarantine
Quarantine is compulsory isolation, typically to contain the spread of something considered dangerous, often but not always disease. The word comes from the Italian quarantena, meaning forty-day period....
laws. AQIS forms part of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia)
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is an Australian government department. The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s role is to develop and implement policies and programs that ensure Australia's agricultural, fisheries, food and forestry industries...
.
Quarantine in Australia
History
On 30 March 1908, the Commonwealth Quarantine service came into operation and took over quarantine stations in every Australian state.Role of AQIS
AQIS is the agency responsible for animal, plant and human quarantine border controls, of passengers and cargo. AQIS officers use X-ray machines and sniffer dogs in airports, seaports and mail centres to search for quarantine risk material.Along with Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ)
Food Standards Australia New Zealand
Food Standards Australia New Zealand is the governmental body responsible for developing food standards for Australia and New Zealand .FSANZ develops food standards after consulting with other government agencies and stakeholders...
AQIS administers the Imported Food Programme, which ensures that food commercially imported into Australia meets Australia’s Quarantine Standards and the Food Standards Code.
AQIS also provides inspection and certification for a range of agricultural products exported from Australia, to ensure compliance with overseas countries importation requirements.
Biosecurity Australia
Biosecurity AustraliaBiosecurity Australia
Biosecurity Australia is an arm of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It provides science based quarantine assessments and policy advice to protect Australian agricultural industry, and to enhances Australia's access to international animal and plant...
is a prescribed agency within the Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry. Biosecurity Australia provides policy advice to AQIS concerning the importation of quarantine risk material to Australia when requested by AQIS. AQIS ultimately sets the rules concerning the imports, not Biosecurity Australia (read the Quarantine Act 1908).