Biosecurity Tasmania (BT) is introducing Property Identification Code (PIC) application, renewal and amendment fees from 1 July 2026.
You can find out more about PICs, including what animals you are legally required to have a PIC for, on our dedicated page.
The new fees will apply from 1 July 2026.
All fees in this table will be subject to legislated annual increases for CPI. The value of fee units are set by the Fee Units Act 1997.
PIC fees apply for identifiable livestock – cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.
PICs for other purposes will remain free of charge.
How often will I have to renew my PIC?
PIC renewals will occur every three years.
This means the cost of maintaining a PIC will be equivalent to around $13 a year (subject to cpi).
I already have a PIC; will I receive a renewal fee on 1 July 2026?
We will stagger renewals for existing PICs over the first three years, starting with older PICs.
We will notify PIC holders when a PIC is due for renewal.
When do I need a PIC?
The Biosecurity (Livestock Traceability) Regulations 2024 (the Regulations) require that any property with cattle, sheep, goats or pigs must have a valid PIC. This includes farms, saleyards, processing premises and event locations.
The Regulations don’t require a PIC or prescribe fees for premises holding other types of livestock. However, we recommend that these livestock owners opt-in and make an application for a PIC at no cost.
If I have more than one PIC, will I have to pay fees for each PIC?
Yes, fees are charged for each PIC.
PICs are attached to a property, not a person. If cattle, sheep, goats or pigs are kept at a property, that property must have a PIC.
This means that a person, company or organisation may be required to have more than one PIC if they are responsible for cattle, sheep, goats or pigs kept or managed at more than one location.
How do I apply for, renew, amend, or cancel a PIC?
You can apply for, amend or cancel PICs using the online PIC Registration and Amendment System (PRAS): https://pras.biosecurity.tas.gov.au/pras/ui. A new online PRAS is being developed that will streamline PIC management and allow you to pay your fees.
You can still contact our team about other service and payment methods.
Why should I renew my PIC?
Renewals help to maintain a current and accurate Tasmanian PIC Register. This helps BT to respond in a quick and effective way if there is an emergency animal disease (EAD) outbreak. It also means we can contact you if there is an EAD outbreak so you can take steps to protect yourself and your animals.
Failure to renew a PIC will result in the cancellation of your ownership of the PIC. This may affect Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) accreditation and your ability to order National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) identification tags.
It’s also a legal requirement for keeping sheep, goats, cattle and pigs. Biosecurity Tasmania has authorised officers who check that the rules are being followed. They can provide education or enforcement, including fines, when people aren’t doing the right thing. This helps to protect our agricultural industries and communities.
Why are these fees being introduced now?
The Regulations set fees for PICs, consistent with other states and territories.
A grace period was in place to support industry since the Regulations commenced in 2024. PICs issued or amended during this time have been free of charge.
The grace period will end on 30 June 2026.
How are the new fees calculated?
As these are prescribed fees within the Regulations, the fee values are set by the Tasmanian Fee Units Act 1997.
What was the approval process for the new fees?
Community consultation occurred when the Regulations were developed. The Secretary (Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania) has now approved the fees implementation and the Minister for Primary Industries and Water supported them. The process met the requirements of the Biosecurity Act 2019.
How will the new fees be used?
We all value having vibrant, productive and healthy industries and communities. Protecting those things sometimes requires changes to keep pace with the challenges.
That's why we'll be investing the revenue from the new fees back into biosecurity programs to benefit Tasmania.
Why are these fee changes important?
The livestock traceability system is critical to Tasmania’s reputation for high-quality, safe and ethical animal products. This supports our producers to access premium domestic and international markets.
We need to be able to protect our livestock from serious diseases and help safeguard Tasmania’s reputation for safe, healthy produce. The risks to Tasmania are increasing, in part due to how people, animals and freight are moving in our modern, connected world.
For example, an animal disease outbreak such as Foot and Mouth Disease could cost the Australian economy 80 billion over 10 years. Business would stop, there would be no exports, animals would likely need to be destroyed, and jobs would be lost.
That's why having a strong biosecurity system and good traceability is important. We know that protecting Tasmanian livestock, industries and communities is worth it.