Primary Industries (Customs) Charges 2023

✦ Plain-English Summary

# Primary Industries (Customs) Charges 2023

## What it does
This law sets up a system for charging fees on agricultural products and farm-related goods coming into Australia. It spells out what gets charged, how much, who pays, and which items are exempt from these charges.

## Why it matters
These charges help fund biosecurity and regulatory services that protect Australian farms and food safety. The fees ultimately flow through to consumers via prices, so understanding what's being charged matters for your grocery bill and farming industry costs.

## Key details
- **Starts 1 January 2025** — The law kicks in from the new year
- **Who pays** — Importers of primary industry products (like fresh produce, meat, dairy) and farming inputs (fertilisers, animal feed, medicines) are the charge payers
- **Flexibility built in** — The government can set different charge rates for different products and can set some at zero rate (meaning no charge), so the system can adapt without needing a new law each time

Official Description

Introduced with the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Bill 2023, Primary Industries (Services) Levies Bill 2023, Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Bill 2023, Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement Bill 2023 and Primary Industries (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 to establish a new framework for the agricultural levy system, the bill enables the regulations to impose customs charges in relation to products that are produce of a primary industry and goods consumed by, or used in the maintenance or treatment of, animals, plants, fungi or algae.

Committee Referrals

Semate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee

Full bill PDF →APH page →

Audit History

Introduced

18 Oct 2023

Last updated on APH

10 Apr 2026

Outcome date

9 July 2024

Last checked by Crossbench

yesterday

Full text indexed

yesterday

🗳️

No formal division recorded

This bill passed by voice vote — parliament agreed without calling a formal count. A division is only recorded when a member explicitly requests one.

Constituent votes

Voting is closed — this bill has been decided by parliament.

No votes yet.

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🔒 Voting closed — this bill has been decided by parliament