Permitted Matter

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Definition of "permitted matter"​​

Section​ 19 of the Biosecurity Act 2019 (the Act) defines “permitted matter” as follows:

19. Permitted matter

(1) The Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, declare any biosecurity matter, or class of biosecurity matter, to be permitted matter if the Minister is satisfied on reasonable grounds that –

​​​​(a) the biosecurity matter, or class of biosecurity matter, does not pose a biosecurity risk to Tasmania or a part of Tasmania; or

(b) any biosecurity risk posed by the biosecurity matter, or class of biosecurity matter, is not significant and is able to be effectively controlled.

(2) A declaration under this section may be made subject to such conditions, requirements or restrictions in respect of biosecurity matter, or class of biosecurity matter, as the Minister considers reasonable in the circumstances.​

Permitted matter comprises mainly beneficial or commercially valuable products and goods that have been assessed to present a low biosecurity risk to Tasmania. 

Permitted matter may be imported into Tasmania without any specific permit restrictions or requirements. However, the general biosecurity duty (GBD) will still apply to all dealings with all biosecurity matter and carriers, including permitted matter. 

Current list of permitted matter

​​The biosecurity matter (plants, animals and associated products) that have been declared permitted matter under section 19 of the Act are listed below.

​​1. The following classes of consumer goods intended for human consumption, or animal consumption, have been declared permitted matter:

​(a) commercially produced dried nuts;

​​(b) commercially produced honey that has been filtered to a maximum 2 mm pore size; (excluding raw honeycomb and raw beeswax);

​​​(c) processed plant-based foods including commercially dried and/or cooked fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, juices, jams, sauces, sugars, and edible oils;

​(d) commercially produced eggs and egg products (fresh or powdered);

​(e) hard frozen fruit and vegetables;

​(f) freeze-dried camping foods (excluding dried seafood);

​(g) baked goods including biscuits, breads and pastries;

​(h) processed ready-to-eat meat for human/personal consumption including salami, hams and meat sticks (excluding seafood);

​(i) canned seafood and meat products;

​(j) cheese, milk, yoghurt, ice cream and other processed dairy products (fresh or powdered);

​(k) noodles, pasta, rice, flour and other dried cereals;

​(l) tea, coffee, wine, beer, cordial and other bottled or packaged beverages (liquid or powdered);

​(m) processed baby food and baby formula;

​(n) any animal or plant product contained in a commercially produced human or veterinary medicine that may lawfully be used in Tasmania; and

​(o) commercially produced pet food (canned or dried, excluding dried seafood).

​​​​​2. The following classes of live animals and animal products have been declared permitted matter:

(a) domestic cats (excluding feral, wild or hybrid cat species);

(b) horses and donkeys; 

(c) guinea pigs;

(d) chickens, ducks, geese and other domestic poultry and poultry hatching eggs;

(e) any animal product from an animal referred to in (a) – (d).

3. The following classes of animal and plant products commonly found in manufactured goods other than food, or used for domestic and industrial purposes, have been declared permitted matter:

(a) tanned or treated skins and hides (all) including antlers and horns;

(b) treated plant and animal-based textiles or fibres (for example wool, feathers, cotton, hemp, paper, flax, fur, hair and leather) in commercially manufactured items such as wigs, clothing, footwear, accessories, m​anchester, print-publications and upholstery (excluding raw timber, restricted animal fittings, used fishing equipment, and restricted horticultural material); 

(c) treated animal and plant products (for example honey, beeswax, essential oils, lanolin, and gelatine) in commercially manufactured make-up, perfumes, shampoos, salves, tinctures, topical medicines and other cosmetic and/or therapeutic goods;

(d) treated animal and plant products (for example beeswax, essential oils, and pigments) in commercially manufactured dyes, candles, glues, paints, incense, cleaning products and other similar household and industrial chemical products;

(e) treated animal and plant products (for example cardboard, rope, rubber, treated timber and timber products) in commercially manufactured packaging, furniture, tools, equipment, and construction/manufacturing materials (excluding raw timber, restricted animal fittings, and restricted horticultural material). ​​

​​​​Importing permitted matter

​A Notice of Intention to Import (NOI) is not required when importing permitted matter

Other biosecurity matter listings​

Contact

Biosecurity Tasmania