Biosecurity determinations and approvals

These determinations and approvals are not included in the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Regulations 2013 because they will change from time to time.

Current determinations and approvals are published below.

Changes to an organism’s legal status and import or movement requirements are informed by consultation with government agencies and relevant stakeholders, where appropriate.  

WA Organism List  

Under the BAM Act, every organism has a legal status, except human beings. The Minister may declare an organism as permitted (section 11), prohibited (section 12) or a declared pest (section 22(2)). An organism that has not been declared is classified as an unlisted organism and is also regulated.

Prohibited organisms and declared pests may also be assigned control and keeping categories under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Regulations 2013.

These declarations help manage biosecurity risks and minimise adverse effects on WA’s economy, environment and community.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) assesses organisms and provides advice to support decisions about their legal status under the BAM Act.

The WA Organism List (WAOL) shows the legal status of organisms and any applicable control, keeping or import requirements.

When assessing an organism, DPIRD considers whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that it has, or may have, an adverse effect on another organism, people, the environment or agricultural, fishing, pearling or related commercial activities.

More information

For more information about organism declarations and categorisation under the BAM Act, contact: biosecuritygovernance@dpird.wa.gov.au

Import requirements 

In addition to restrictions on importing declared pests, under reg 72 the Director General can publish import requirements for potential carriers to enter WA.  

A potential carrier could be defined as anything that can carry an organism or anything that can carry other items that may be carrying an organism.

For general information on import requirements visit Quarantine WA. 

To search for import requirements on a potential carrier visit Quarantine WA Import Requirements Search.  

For forms associated with importation please view the Biosecurity forms page.

Intrastate movement requirements 

Under reg 8A the Director Genral can publish movement requirements for potential carriers moving from one part of WA to another.  

This is because there are some pests and diseases which are present in parts of the state, and not others. Restricting movement in and out of these areas allows us to manage the risk of the pest or disease spreading. 

For forms associated with intrastate movement please view the Biosecurity forms page. 

Director General approvals 

Various sections of the Act and Regulations require the Director General to approve treatments, tests or forms that enable people to meet their obligations.