Freight and Passenger Transport - General Biosecurity Duty

​​​​​​​​Being involved in the transport of people or freight in Tasmania means that you have an important role to play in helping to protect your business and the state from the impact of pests, weeds and diseases.  ​

Listed below are some biosecurity actions you can take to meet your General Biosecurity Duty (GBD) and to help keep your business - and Tasmania - biosecurity safe.​

Develop a Biosecurity Plan

Developing and implementing an appropriate biosecurity plan for your business is a key step that you can take.  Biosecurity plans should contain actions aimed at preventing the introduction or spread of pests, weeds and disease between the sites that you visit and with the people and freight you transport. They are also a good way to educate staff and clients on the importance of biosecurity. There are many on-line resources to assist with this ​ – the Farm Biosecurity website is a great starting point.​​​​​


Important Biosecurity Actions

​Biosecurity vigilance (also known as Notification of a Biosecurity Event)​

  • If you SEE something in or on a consignment that you are transporting that is unusual or of biosecurity concern, such as potential exotic plant/animal pests, weeds or diseases, or invasive animal species;

  • SECURE the site by restricting access (and limiting movement in the case of suspected animal diseases) AND take a photo, noting the location; and then

  • REPORT it to Biosecurity Tasmania as soon as possible. 

Please note: Taking samples in the field may increase the risk of spreading the biosecurity risk so Biosecurity Tasmania will provide further instruction regarding possible sample collection and submission.

  • Promote links to the Biosecurity Tasmania website and import conditions on your website or booking platform.

  • Develop a statement regarding Tasmanian biosecurity requirements to display on your website and/or to relay to clients during booking. If you are a passenger carrier, such as an airline, develop a message to play to passengers prior to arrival in Tasmania reminding them of biosecurity requirements and their GBD.  Contact Biosecurity Tasmania if you would like assistance with this.

  • Familiarise yourself with Tasmanian import requirements for the types of freight that you transport. 

  • Set conditions of carriage based on passenger or freight items meeting biosecurity requirements. As the transporter, you have a GBD to ensure that you do not transport prohibited or restricted items or matter into Tasmania where it could be reasonably assumed that you should have known the items or matter were not permitted. Examples of this would include: 

    • allowing a vehicle with soil and plant material to travel into Tasmania, 

    • carrying livestock that are not fit for the journey, or 

    • a tour company or private charter company ​supplying fresh fruit to clients for lunches to be consumed after arrival in Tasmania. 

  • The client must be directed to rectify any biosecurity issues prior to being permitted to travel by the transporter. 

  • Ensure that clients supply all required biosecurity documentation with a freight consignment.
    Follow any directions given by Biosecurity Tasmania in relation to a consignment.

  • Ensure that all animals are fit to load​ for the intended journey and that any animals that are not fit to load are not permitted to travel. Note: as well as the owner/transporter, shippers and airlines also have a duty of care to ensure that animals are fit to travel.​

Contact and reporting

Contact Biosecurity Tasmania for general information or to report a suspected pest, weed or disease:

Phone: (03) 6165 3777

Email: Biosecurity.Tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au​ 

Alternatively, for reporting pests, weeds or diseases, you can call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline (1800 084 881) or the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline (1800 675 858). 


Stay up to date on biosecurity in Tasmania

Subscribing to get Tasmanian Biosecurity Advisories is the best way you can keep yourself up-to-date and fully informed about Tasmanian biosecurity issues. Our Advisories cover topics such as changes or proposed changes to Tasmania’s import regulations, animal health and welfare, plant health, forthcoming regulation reviews and opportunities for public comment, new or emerging pest/disease risks and a range of other matters related to Tasmania’s biosecurity​


Follow Biosecurity Tasmania on Facebook​.
​Please note that this information contains minimum recommendations only. The GBD requires a person dealing with biosecurity matter or a carrier to take all reasonable and practicable measures to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk associated with the dealing. Such measures may not be specified in any regulations, guidelines or other official publications.