DPIRD is responsible for enforcing and monitoring compliance with all NSW biosecurity legislation. Biosecurity is protecting our economy, environment and communities from the negative impacts of pests, diseases and invasive species.
Through the NSW Food Authority, DPIRD is also responsible for regulating and monitoring food safety across the entire food industry supply chain in NSW - from paddock to plate.
Compliance officers protect the environment and community by reducing, removing and mitigating the risk of harm to people and the environment.
As an outcome-based regulator, our risk-based approach to regulation minimises costs and maximises outcomes for the government, businesses and the community.
Our Regulatory Framework details our core responsibilities and regulatory principles, and the way we approach our responsibilities. These principles support a risk-based, outcome-focused approach to regulation and provide accountability and transparency to our stakeholders.
Compliance and enforcement policy
Our Compliance and Enforcement Policy outlines our compliance principles, how we promote voluntary compliance, create deterrence and respond to offending through graduated and proportionate enforcement actions. The policy also supports our risk-based, outcome-focused approach to compliance and enforcement activities.
The Litigation and Enforcement Strategy explains how DPIRD approaches its compliance and enforcement work. It outlines how information is used to make decisions, based on key enforcement principles.
Biosecurity compliance programs
The Compliance unit administers proactive compliance programs to manage several identified biosecurity risks. These programs include:
Regulatory Priorities
The Compliance unit is responsible for conducting compliance and enforcement activities to verify a safe and secure food supply, support the shared responsibility principle to reduce biosecurity risks posed by animal and plant pests, diseases, weeds and contaminants, and protect the welfare of exhibited and research animals. The team investigates reports of non-compliance, foodborne illness, pest and disease issues and assists in emergency management operations as necessary.
The compliance unit reviews its compliance priorities annually to ensure that it adopts a risk-based approach to its short-term and enduring priorities, as well as new and emerging biosecurity threats and food safety risks. These priorities are determined in consultation with key industry and community stakeholders and co-regulatory agencies such as Local Land Services, Local Government Authorities. The priorities are set in the context of NSW Government priorities and the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Strategic Plan.
Past compliance activities and outcome reports
Outcome reports and case studies for some of our past regulatory priorities are highlighted below:
- Current biosecurity activities
- Operation Hexagon (PDF, 390.18 KB)
- Cattle Catcher (PDF, 382.28 KB)
- Salmonella Enteritidis Testing (PDF, 391.54 KB)
- Operation VICTA (PDF, 772.43 KB)
Compliance and enforcement activity statistics from 2023-2024 are highlighted in this video.