Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormDried
Industry PositionFood Ingredient (Herb/Spice)
Market
Dried rosemary in Australia is primarily an import-dependent culinary ingredient market supplying retail herbs/spices, foodservice, and food manufacturing. Imports must meet Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) biosecurity conditions set through BICON, and dried herbs are subject to DAFF’s Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS) with risk-based inspection and sampling, including Salmonella testing for dried herbs. Imported products sold in Australia must comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (FSANZ), and retail items are subject to country-of-origin labelling rules overseen by the ACCC. National brands (e.g., MasterFoods, Hoyts, McCormick Foods Australia) indicate significant in-market packing/blending alongside globally sourced inputs.
Market RoleImport-dependent consumer market
Domestic RoleCulinary herb ingredient used across household cooking, foodservice seasonings, and food manufacturing; retail products are commonly packed/blended for Australian sale, often using imported dried herb inputs.
Specification
Physical Attributes- Thoroughly dried plant material and not capable of propagation (biosecurity expectation).
- Free from contaminant seed, soil, live insects and other biosecurity risk material for clearance into Australia.
Packaging- Retail jars/sachets and foodservice packs are common in Australia.
- Biosecurity pathways commonly require clean, new packaging and consignments may be unpacked/inspected at an approved arrangement site.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Overseas drying/cleaning → export packaging → freight → DAFF biosecurity clearance (BICON) → IFIS visual/label assessment and possible sampling → Australian packing/blending → retail & foodservice distribution
Temperature- Store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight (common Australian retail label storage instruction for dried herbs/spices).
Risks
Biosecurity HighAustralia enforces strict DAFF biosecurity conditions for dried herbs through BICON; detection of live insects, contaminant seed or soil can trigger holds and outcomes such as mandatory treatment, re-export, or disposal. Some BICON dried-herb pathways also reference heightened controls linked to khapra beetle risk settings, increasing the likelihood of delays or intervention if pathway requirements are not met.Match the shipment to the correct BICON dried-herbs case before booking freight; ensure thoroughly dried, clean, pest-free storage/packing; use clean/new packaging; and provide accurate ingredient and botanical/common-name documentation to support clearance.
Food Safety HighDAFF classifies dried and powdered herbs as a surveillance food and may refer consignments for analytical testing; the published test for dried herbs includes Salmonella with a not-detected criterion, so contamination can result in a failing food outcome and the product cannot be released for sale.Use suppliers with validated Salmonella control (process and/or post-process pathogen reduction plus recontamination prevention); require microbiological certificates of analysis for each lot and maintain importer verification sampling aligned to DAFF/FSANZ expectations.
Labeling MediumRetail dried herbs/spices in Australia are subject to country-of-origin labelling rules and DAFF IFIS label assessments; incorrect origin statements or non-compliant label elements can lead to relabelling requirements, clearance delays, or failure under IFIS.Pre-approve labels against ACCC origin-labelling guidance and applicable Food Standards Code requirements; retain substantiation for origin and packing claims used on labels.
Chemical Residues MediumImported dried herbs sold in Australia must comply with relevant limits and requirements in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, including standards covering agricultural and veterinary chemical residues and contaminants; non-compliance can trigger enforcement action or border intervention.Implement residue-risk screening for the specific herb and origin; test lots against relevant Food Standards Code requirements and maintain supplier residue-control documentation for importer due diligence.
FAQ
What are the key biosecurity requirements to import dried rosemary into Australia?DAFF biosecurity requirements for dried herbs are set out in BICON and generally focus on the product being thoroughly dried and not capable of propagation, packed cleanly, and free of biosecurity contaminants such as live insects, contaminant seed, and soil. DAFF may inspect consignments and can direct treatment, re-export, or disposal if biosecurity risk material is found, so importers should match their shipment to the correct BICON dried-herbs case before shipping.
Can dried rosemary be sampled for Salmonella at the Australian border?Yes. DAFF’s published Imported Food Inspection Scheme settings for dried herbs classify them as surveillance food and note that consignments may be referred for analytical testing at a 5% rate, including Salmonella testing with a not-detected criterion. If a consignment fails, it cannot be released for sale and may require re-export or destruction under DAFF controls.
Do retail dried herbs need country-of-origin labelling in Australia?In most retail situations, yes. The ACCC explains that the Country of Origin Food Labelling Information Standard 2016 requires origin information for most foods offered for retail sale in Australia, including herbs and spices, with specific label formats depending on the product category and the type of origin claim being made.