Your responsibilities

Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, anyone visiting or working on a farm, or entering processing, packing, or storage facilities, has a legal responsibility to help prevent the spread of pests and diseases. This is known as your General Biosecurity Duty.

Fulfilling your General Biosecurity Duty means that you:

• Check the latest alerts
• Take steps to prevent pests, diseases and weeds from entering NSW and spreading to new areas
• Keep an eye out for pests, weeds and signs of disease
• Report anything unusual
• Participate where possible when we respond to incursions and biosecurity emergencies.

If the property has a Biosecurity Management Plan, you must follow the rules set out in the plan. Penalties apply if you don’t comply:

• On-the-spot fines of $1,000
• Court-imposed fines up to $220,000 for individuals
• Fines up to $440,000 for corporations

What to expect when visiting a property

Landholders may ask you to:

• Register on arrival or sign a visitor log
• Contact the owner or manager before entering—look out for signage
• Avoid contact with livestock, crops, and plant material
• Clean and check vehicles, tools, boots, and clothing in a designated area on arrival and departure
• Complete basic biosecurity training, especially if you’re a regular visitor or contractor

A landholder has the right to refuse entry if you do not follow their biosecurity instructions.

Farm-stays and tourism properties

If you’re staying at or visiting a farm-stay or agritourism property, you may receive instructions before your visit. Follow them carefully and make sure you’re not bringing pests, weeds, or contaminants with you.

Remember: introducing a pest or disease to one property can quickly become a threat to an entire region.

Utility and service providers

We’re working with essential service and utility companies to support consistent biosecurity practices for employees visiting rural properties.
View the Primefact: Landholder Biosecurity and Utility Service Providers (PDF, 439.4 KB)