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Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service

AQIS

October 1986 – 2012

Quarantine and export inspection service within the Commonwealth primary industries department. It enforced Australia's quarantine laws at the border, inspecting travellers, cargo, mail and imported food, and inspected and certified meat, food and other agricultural exports for overseas markets.

How it came into existence

Established in October 1986 within the Department of Primary Industry by combining the animal and plant quarantine branches of the Australian Agricultural Health and Quarantine Service and the Export Inspection Service, both already in that department, with the general quarantine function of the Department of Health. It was an administrative body within the department rather than a statutory authority.

  • Split from Department of Primary Industry · October 1986
    • Export inspection and certification (Export Inspection Service)
    • Export meat inspection
    • Animal and plant quarantine (Australian Agricultural Health and Quarantine Service)
  • Split from Department of Health · October 1986
    • General quarantine inspection at ports and airports

    Human quarantine policy stayed with the health portfolio.

Changes during its life

  1. 24 July 1987Moved to the new Department of Primary Industries and Energy when the Department of Primary Industry merged with the Department of Resources and Energy.
  2. 21 October 1998Moved to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – Australia on the abolition of the Department of Primary Industries and Energy.
  3. 1 July 2009Grouped with Biosecurity Australia and other biosecurity areas of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in a new Biosecurity Services Group, while continuing to operate under the AQIS name.
  • Part split off to form Biosecurity Australia · October 2000
    • Import risk analysis
    • Animal and plant quarantine policy

How it ended

After the 2008 Beale review it was brought together with Biosecurity Australia and other biosecurity areas of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Biosecurity Services Group from 2009; in 2012 the AQIS name was dropped in favour of DAFF Biosecurity, its quarantine and export certification functions continuing as divisions of the department.

Main functions

  • Border quarantine inspection of travellers, cargo, mail and vessels
  • Animal and plant quarantine and post-entry quarantine stations
  • Inspection of imported food
  • Export inspection and certification of meat, food and agricultural products
  • Meat inspection at export establishments
  • Administration of the Quarantine Act 1908 and export control legislation

Where it sits

Last in the portfolio of Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Lineage

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Sources

Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.