Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service

Dog at work searching for fruit in the luggage of passengers embarking from a boat to Tasmania

Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) was an agency of the Australian Government responsible for enforcing Australian quarantine laws, as part of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. AQIS's role was to ensure that goods entering or leaving Australia did not pose a threat to the Australian environment, agriculture, and the economy. AQIS worked closely with other government and international agencies to enforce laws and regulations regarding the import and export of goods, including food, animals, and plants.

History

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service was established to manage Australia's quarantine policies, which have been in place since the early days of European settlement. Australia's geographic isolation had historically protected it from many pests and diseases common in other parts of the world. However, as international trade and travel increased, so did the risk of introducing harmful pests and diseases. AQIS played a crucial role in managing these risks through inspection, certification, and treatment of goods and travelers entering or leaving Australia.

Functions and Responsibilities

The primary functions of AQIS included:

• Inspection and certification of imports and exports to ensure they met Australian and international standards.
• Quarantine controls at Australia's borders to prevent the entry of pests and diseases.
• Providing information and services to assist businesses in meeting export and import requirements.
• Collaboration with international organizations to promote and develop sanitary and phytosanitary standards.

AQIS employed a range of scientific and regulatory approaches to manage the risk of pests and diseases entering the country. This included pre-border assessments, at-border inspections, and post-border surveillance and response strategies.

Merger

In 2012, AQIS was merged with the Biosecurity Services Group, Plant Biosecurity, and Animal Biosecurity to form a single entity known as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)'s Biosecurity division. This merger was part of a government initiative to streamline services and create a more efficient and effective biosecurity system in Australia.

Legacy

The work of AQIS has had a lasting impact on Australia's biosecurity system. The agency's efforts in protecting Australia's agriculture and environment from pests and diseases have been critical in maintaining the health and safety of the Australian public and its natural flora and fauna. The legacy of AQIS continues under the Biosecurity division of DAFF, which carries on the essential work of safeguarding Australia's borders against biosecurity threats.

See Also

• Biosecurity in Australia
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
• Import and export regulations in Australia