Changes to the Biosecurity Act 2016
Events Online Store
Advocacy and PolicyYour LandBiosecurityChanges to the Biosecurity Act 2016

Changes to the Biosecurity Act 2016

New biosecurity laws for livestock producers from 1 July 2016

The Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014 and the Biosecurity Regulation 2016 aim to protect Queensland from biosecurity threats that could adversely impact the State. This manual is designed to simplify the process of determining what must be done to move risk items into and around Queensland. 

We urge livestock producers to be aware of new biosecurity laws that commenced on 1 July 2016.

It is important producers are aware of the new laws and what they would mean for their business.

This includes a new approach to managing cattle tick which will commence from 1 July 2016.

A major theme of the new laws is that of shared responsibility - that everyone is responsible for managing their own biosecurity risks.

The laws introduce the general biosecurity obligation, meaning livestock producers must take an active role in managing biosecurity risks under their control and must ensure their actions do not spread pests, diseases or contaminants.

Queensland's new Biosecurity Act 2014 has now commenced. To find out more about your responsibilities visit www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23. 

Every livestock producer should have their own on-farm biosecurity plan to help protect their livelihoods from the threats posed by diseases, pests and weeds. For information and guidance on how to develop a biosecurity plan the Livestock Biosecurity Network has developed some tools to assist.

List of accredited certifiers
Click here for information on how to contact Accredited Certifiers in your district.

DAF will be updating this list as more people undertake training and are licenced. Contact your regional DAF office if you would like to undertake training to become an accredited certifier.

Fact Sheets provided by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Click here for a fact sheet on Understanding how Queensland's new Biosecurity regulations
affect you
Click here for a fact sheet on managing the movement of cattle over the tick line and accredited certifiers
Click here for a fact sheet which gives an overview of the new Biosecurity laws
Click here for a fact sheet on Biosecurity laws - livestock
Click here for a fact sheet on Biosecurity laws - horses
Click here for a fact sheet on the proposed cattle tick management in Queensland
Click here for a fact sheet on restricted matter
Click here for a fact sheet on prohibited matter
Click here for a glossary of the terms used under the Biosecurity Act 2014

New approach to Johne's disease in cattle

The new, national approach to Johne's disease (JD) in cattle – the BJD Framework – offers a fresh approach to the management of the endemic disease. It focuses on managing on-farm biosecurity risk rather than controlling disease through regulation and treats JD as just one of many diseases that producers must manage within their business.

Supported by more flexible regulation, producers will be able to make informed decisions about the
opportunities and risks associated with purchasing livestock.

Find out what it means for you here.


The National Cattle Health Declaration and supporting tools are now available.

The Cattle Health Declaration is on the Farm Biosecurity website on the declarations and beef cattle and dairy cattle pages.

The JD in cattle tools page on the Animal Health Australia provides the Johne's Beef Assurance Score (J-BAS), JD Biosecurity Checklist, Cooperative Biosecurity Group Guidelines, and JD in cattle Definitions and Guidelines, with links to Farm Biosecurity and the Cattle Health Declaration.

If you have any comments or requests for information please fill out the below form

Full Name*
Email Address*
Is there any additional information you require? Please specify below.
Is there any additional support you think Government should provide? Please specify below.
* denotes fields that are mandatory
2024 AgForce | Industry Privacy Code | Terms & Conditions | Home
Advocacy and PolicyYour LandBiosecurityChanges to the Biosecurity Act 2016

Changes to the Biosecurity Act 2016

Our website login feature is temporarily suspended while we are building a new member portal, so some information may not be available. If you experience any difficulties, please contact us for more information.

Members Login

Forgot Your Password?