Why does Australia as a nation import foods?
Australia has a vibrant and sustainable agricultural and food manufacturing industry, however we don’t produce all foods, and cannot make all foods available to consumers all year around. Imported foods provide Australians with choice, variety and value for money. Imported foods complement the products that we as a nation produce; thereby broadening the range of products available to Australians and enabling Australians to find a product that suit their needs and their wallets. Cocoa, coffee beans and tea are essentials and must be imported. Cashews and other tree nuts are examples of food that are not grown in sufficient quantities to meet Australian demand . For some within our cosmopolitan society, importers bring a reminder of home. For others, imported foods bring new and exciting options to try; expanding our tastebuds and enabling us to try new things.
How much does Australia import each year?
Australia imports $14.9 billion in food each year, compared to $35.7 billion of foods that we as a nation export to the world. The overwhelming majority of food sold here in Australian is locally grown and prepared. This includes 98 per cent of meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, milk and eggs.
Where do our imported foods come from?
In our cosmopolitan nation, we are lucky to have access to food items and ingredients from almost every nation around the world. This brings a reminder of home for many, while allowing others to push our boundaries and try new things. Our largest importer is a nation not too far from our shores, New Zealand, which is responsible for one in five of the total value of Australian imports. The United States currently runs second with approximately 9 per cent and China is third on approximately 7 per cent.
What’s the percentage of imported foods in Australia’s supermarkets?
There are hundreds of imported foods in Australian supermarkets. Imported foods such as fish sauce, Jalapeno peppers, miso, spices such as garam masala and fenugreek, and balsamic vinegar can be found. Australians are buying these ingredients in order to try new things, expand their tastebuds, and build their repertoire. However, the overwhelming majority of food sold in Australian supermarkets is locally grown and prepared. This includes 98 per cent of meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, milk and eggs.
Are imported foods safe?
Yes, there is one set of food standards in Australia that are strictly applied to all foods, irrespective of the source. Imported foods are scrutinised by Australian regulators at the border to ensure compliance with all Australian standards including food safety, additives, levels of pesticide residues and contaminants, and food labelling. The Department of Agriculture  is now known as the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. In the second half of 2014, the Department of Agriculture’s officers inspected over 16,000 lines of imported foods, undertaking nearly 51,000 tests, to ensure products met Australian standards. Of the produces tested 98.6 per cent of imported foods were found to be compliant. Food labels was the most common reason for non-compliance for reasons like not displaying allergen information.
Are Australian foods safer than imported foods?
Australia is internally renowned for the quality and safety of the food we produce; setting the standard for the quality, choice, variety and safety that Australians as consumers expect. There is one set of food standards in Australia that are strictly applied to all foods, whether grown and produced locally or from nations around the world. All foods must meet Australia’s high standards in the areas of safety, use of additives, levels of pesticides and other contaminants, as well as clarity of food labelling. Imported foods are held up to this same high standard. The most recent departmental reporting shows that 98.6 per cent of imported foods tested as part of the Australia’s Imported Food Inspection Scheme were found to be compliant. Labelling was the most common reason for non-compliance.
What standards do importers have to meet when they bring foods into Australia?
Australia’s Imported Food Inspection Scheme monitors imported foods in order to ensure the foods meet all Australia food standards including:

  • Clarity of food labelling such as nutritional information, additives, allergen information;
  • Appropriate use of additives; and
  • Appropriate levels of pesticides, antibiotics, microbiological and metal contaminants, and natural toxicants.

As with all countries, it is not practical to inspect every imported food item and so, Australia has adopted a risk- based border inspection scheme The Department of Agriculture takes advice from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) on those foods that pose a medium to high risk to public health and safety.
More information can be found at:

What about biosecurity/quarantine concerns?
All imported food must meet Australia’s biosecurity requirements to be allowed into the country. The Biosecurity Act 2015 requires that all food imports comply with the quarantine and biosecurity conditions for their import. Biosecurity restrictions apply to many raw foods and certain processed foods, such as dairy, egg and meat products, and fresh fruit and vegetables. Some foods require an Import Permit from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
What role does the Food and Beverage Importers Association play?
We recognise our responsibility to provide Australians with quality foods that are safe to eat. The Association has a strong history of working with government to improve the overall regulatory structures governing the imports of food and beverages into Australia We participate in a number of consultative committees (including the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Cargo Consultative Committee, Imported Food Consultative Committee, the Biologicals Consultative Group, and the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Retailers and Manufacturers Liaison Committee) and contribute to key government and parliamentary reviews.