Quarantine Regulations 2000
Statutory Rules No. 129, 2000
made under the
Quarantine Act 1908
Compilation No. 18
Compilation date: 5 March 2016
Includes amendments up to: F2016L00170
Registered: 10 May 2016
About this compilation
This compilation
This is a compilation of the Quarantine Regulations 2000 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 5 March 2016 (the compilation date).
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.
Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments
If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.
Editorial changes
For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.
Modifications
If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.
Self‑repealing provisions
If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.
Contents
Part 1—Preliminary
1 Name of Regulations
2 Commencement
3 Application
4 Definitions
5 Persons on vessels include master and crew
Part 2—Vessels and installations
Division 1—General requirements
6 Prescribed symptoms and diseases (Act s 22)
7 Quarantine signal during daylight hours (Act s 23)
8 Quarantine signal outside daylight hours (Act s 23)
Division 2—Reports
9 Vessels arriving from Special Quarantine and Protected Zones (Act s 27A(1))
10 Pre‑arrival information (except for aircraft)
11 When and how pre‑arrival information (except for aircraft) to be given
12 Pre‑arrival information for aircraft
13 When, how and where pre‑arrival information for aircraft to be given
14 Masters to report prescribed diseases (Act s 27A(4))
15 When masters to report death
16 Operators to report intended importation of animals
17 When death or escape of animals to be reported
18 Matters about which masters etc must answer questions
19 Other matters that certain vessels must report
20 Requirement to complete or correct information
21 False or misleading information
Division 2A—Pratique
21A Directions that pratique is not taken to have been granted
Division 3—Ballast water and other sanitary requirements
22 Requirement…
Overview
The Quarantine Regulations 2000 were enacted in 2000 to provide the legal framework for the implementation of the Quarantine Act 1908. The problem or gap that these regulations sought to address was the need for a comprehensive and enforceable set of rules and standards governing the importation of animals, plants, and other goods into Australia, as well as the need to prevent the spread of quarantinable diseases and pests. The regulations were introduced by the Australian Parliament and their policy objective was to protect Australia's biosecurity by regulating the importation and movement of potentially harmful organisms and materials.
Scope and Application
- Legislation: F2000B00136 (Legislative instrument)
The Quarantine Regulations 2000, made under the Quarantine Act 1908, apply in, and relate to, Australia, Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands. The Act and Regulations are concerned with the prevention of disease, pests and contaminants entering Australia. The Regulations establish requirements for vessels and installations, including reporting obligations, health declarations, quarantine signals and sanitary conditions. They also establish requirements for the importation of animals, plants and goods, including risk analysis, permits and import declarations. The Regulations provide for infringement notice offences and infringement notices, and establish a ship sanitation certification scheme. They also contain provisions relating to the performance of quarantine, including orders into quarantine, release from quarantine and quarantine surveillance. The Regulations apply to a range of persons, entities and industries, including masters, crews, operators, importers and quarantine officers. The Regulations extend or restrict application through subordinate instruments.
Key Provisions
- The Quarantine Regulations 2000, which are regulations made under the Quarantine Act 1908, outline key provisions for the control and prevention of the spread of diseases and pests through quarantine measures in Australia, Christmas Island, and the Cocos Islands. The Regulations apply to vessels, installations, animals, plants, and other goods arriving from or within these territories. Key sections include requirements for reporting symptoms and diseases, quarantine signals, pre-arrival information, and sanitary conditions. The Regulations impose obligations on masters, operators, and other parties to provide accurate information about the health status of vessels, installations, animals, and goods, and to ensure compliance with sanitary and quarantine measures. Offences under these Regulations include providing false or misleading information, failure to report diseases or deaths, and unauthorized discharge of stores or waste. Penalties for breaches can range from 30 to 50 penalty units, with strict liability applying to certain offences. The Regulations also establish procedures for issuing and extending ship sanitation certificates and outline the process for import risk analysis. Infringement notices are used for certain offences, with penalties and procedures for payment and withdrawal detailed in the Regulations.
- Area of Law
- Environmental Law
- Health Law
- Instrument
- Regulation
- Concepts
- Definitions & Interpretation
- Commencement Provisions
- Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
- Enforcement Powers
- Quarantine & Biosecurity
- Quarantine Surveillance
- Infringement Notice Offences
