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NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Animals requiring authorisation



The Biosecurity Act 2015 (the Act) provides the legislative framework for managing the biosecurity risks of non-native animals. The Act controls and regulates the entry of certain non-native animals into NSW, and the movement and keeping of those animals within the State through regulations, registrations and permits, unless they are authorised under the Exhibited Animals Protection Act 1986 or Animal Research Act 1985. The registrations and permits impose conditions to ensure the risks of keeping non-native animal species are adequately managed, such as security and safety requirements to prevent the escape of animals.

Prohibited dealings

The private keeping of higher-risk non-native species listed in Schedule 3, Part 3 of the Act is being phased out as they are considered to introduce unacceptable biosecurity risks.  Biosecurity permits will only be issued if the keeper held a valid license under the Non-Indigenous Animals Act 1987 immediately before 1 July 2017.

Registrable dealings

Unless authorised under the Exhibited Animals Protection Act 1986 or Animal Research Act 1985 a Biosecurity registration is required to keep:

  • Antilope cervicapra (blackbuck)
  • Camelus dromedaries (dromedary camel or Arabian camel), unless kept outside the Western Division of NSW and is identified with a microchip, livestock ear tag or another manner approved by the Secretary
  • Lama guanicoe (guanaco).

The general conditions which apply to biosecurity registrations are outlined in the Procedure for Biosecurity Registrations and should be reviewed before an application for a biosecurity registration is completed and submitted to the NSW DPIRD.

It is an offence to keep or otherwise deal these animals without a Biosecurity registration or other relevant authorisation. Authorised officers appointed under the Act have a range of powers for investigating, monitoring and enforcing compliance with the legislation, to prevent, eliminate, minimise or manage the biosecurity risks of non-native animals. Biosecurity registrations may be issued with a combination of general and specific conditions aimed at managing the biosecurity risks associated with the animal(s).

Biosecurity registrations may be issued with a combination of general and specific conditions aimed at managing the biosecurity risks associated with the animal(s).

Specific conditions that may be included are:

  • minimum security standards for animal enclosures
  • provision of addresses for properties such as veterinary facilities where an animal is anticipated to be moved
  • caps on the maximum number and gender of animals permitted or prohibitions on breeding.

An annual Non-indigenous animal record return is required and must be submitted by the 31 May.

Fees apply when submitting a Biosecurity Registration.

In summary:

  • Biosecurity registration application: $720 for five years
  • Biosecurity registration renewal application: $420 for five years
  • Biosecurity registration variation application: $70 per hour
  • Biosecurity permit application: $720 for five years
  • Biosecurity permit application: $720 for five years. A reduced fee of $420 will be applied to existing licence holders under the Non-Indigenous Animals Act 1987 subject to DPIRD holding relevant information.