A practical, step-by-step checklist for securing a BICON permit and clearing Indonesian green coffee into Australia in 2025. Exact BICON choices, phytosanitary wording, documents to upload, and what to do if DAFF finds live insects.
If you’ve ever had a green coffee shipment held at the Australian border, you know the pain. We’ve been there with buyers and partners. In our experience, the fastest way to predictable approvals is a simple system you can repeat every time.
Here’s the thing. We’ve seen new importers go from delays and surprise fumigations to clean releases in under one quarter by following this exact process.
The 3 pillars of fast, clean approvals
-
Pick the correct BICON case and permit settings. Most delays start with the wrong commodity selection or vague product descriptions.
-
Prepare beans and packaging to match the case conditions. Clean, hull-free beans in compliant bags. No husk, no soil, no live insects.
-
Align documents. Your invoice, packing list, phytosanitary certificate, and any treatment certificate must tell the same story. One mismatch and DAFF will pause the file.
This leads us to the practical setup.
Week 1–2: Set up and validate your pathway
Do I need a BICON permit to import green coffee beans from Indonesia into Australia?
Yes. Unroasted coffee beans require a BICON permit. Roasted coffee does not. We recommend applying under the unroasted coffee beans case for human consumption.
What do I select in BICON’s commodity tree for green coffee beans?
In BICON, either search “coffee beans unroasted” or navigate. Typical path:
- Plant material
- Food, herbs and spices for human consumption
- Coffee beans. Unroasted. Coffea spp. for human consumption
Wording changes slightly when DAFF updates the interface, so use the search bar and confirm the case notes refer to unroasted coffee beans for human consumption. If your intended use is roasting, say so in the application.
Green coffee beans Australia requirements. The essentials we consistently see on permits and inspection notes:
- Beans must be clean and free of pulp, husk, parchment, soil and other extraneous matter.
- Free of live insects at inspection.
- Packed in clean, new bags. Jute or poly with liners are fine if clean and new. Avoid second‑hand sacks.
- Each consignment accompanied by an Indonesian phytosanitary certificate issued by the NPPO.
Phytosanitary certificate wording for Indonesian coffee
Use an Additional Declaration that mirrors your permit. A template that consistently clears for Indonesian origin:
- “The consignment of unroasted coffee beans (Coffea spp.) was inspected and found free of live insects, soil and quarantine pests.”
- “The beans are clean and free from pulp, parchment and husk.”
- If treated offshore: “Treated with methyl bromide at 32 g/m³ for 24 hours at a minimum of 21°C on [date].” Include fumigant, dosage, exposure period, temperature, treatment date.
Some permits add a pest‑specific declaration. In the last six months, DAFF has been conservative around stored‑product pests. If your permit lists a named pest, include “inspected and found free of [named pest]” exactly as written.
Documents to prepare now
- Product description: “Unroasted green coffee beans for human consumption. For roasting.” Include HS 0901.11 (non‑decaf) or 0901.12 (decaf).
- Supplier/manufacturer declaration that beans are fully cleaned. No husk, no soil, no extraneous plant material.
- Draft phytosanitary certificate text for your Indonesian NPPO so there’s no last‑minute guesswork.
- If pre‑treating, a fumigation certificate with the treatment parameters.
Practical takeaway: Validate your BICON case, align your description, and pre‑agree on phytosanitary text with your Indonesian shipper before you even book space.
Week 3–6: Apply, test, and ship a controlled trial
How to apply for the BICON coffee permit in 2025
- Create or log in to your BICON account. Start a new application and select the unroasted coffee beans case for human consumption.
- Commodity details. Enter “Unroasted coffee beans. Coffea spp. Indonesia. For roasting.”
- Origin and processing. State Indonesia as the country of origin and cleaning as the process step. Do not mention “husk” or “parchment” in the product. Those trigger different conditions.
- Intended use. Human consumption. For roasting.
- Uploads. Most coffee permit applications are assessed without mandatory uploads. If requested or to speed things up, attach your supplier declaration and a sample invoice description. Keep it consistent.
- Submit. Standard approvals we see take 10–15 business days. Straightforward renewals can be quicker.
ICS documentation for coffee import
- Import Declaration in Australia’s ICS under HS 0901.11 or 0901.12.
- Bill of lading or airway bill, commercial invoice, packing list.
- Your BICON permit number and conditions.
- Phytosanitary certificate uploaded via COLS or provided to your customs broker for DAFF.
Can vacuum‑packed green coffee avoid methyl bromide FUMIGATION in Australia?
Vacuum packing helps maintain quality. It does not exempt you from biosecurity controls. If DAFF finds live insects at inspection, methyl bromide fumigation remains the default onshore treatment. Pre‑treatment offshore according to BICON can reduce the chance of on‑arrival fumigation, but only if the consignment passes inspection.
Trial shipment tip. Start with a single‑origin lot with strong physical quality that cleans well. For example, Arabica Bali Kintamani Grade 1 Green Coffee Beans or Blue Batak Green Coffee Beans. Both cup beautifully and arrive clean when processed to spec.
Need help mapping your permit text to your actual product and packaging? It’s faster to solve that before you ship. If you want a quick review of your draft documents, you can Contact us on whatsapp.
Week 7–12: Scale and optimize your pathway
Reduce on‑arrival surprises
- Pre‑fumigate only when your risk profile warrants it. Most specialty lots clear without treatment if clean and insect‑free. We only pre‑treat where storage conditions at origin increase pest risk or when permit notes push you that way.
- Lock packaging. New jute or poly sacks with food‑grade liners. Seal and label lots clearly so DAFF can sample efficiently.
- Split consignments by lot or grade. If one lot is compromised, you can treat or re‑export that portion without holding the entire container.
Inspection outcomes and timeframes in 2025
- Permit approval: typically 10–15 business days. Complex cases can take longer if DAFF requests info.
- On‑arrival inspection: usually 1–3 business days after documentation lodgement, depending on port workload.
- If live insects are found: DAFF will direct methyl bromide fumigation, re‑export, or destruction. Fumigation adds time and cost. Plan for 2–5 extra days plus provider fees.
Coffee husk or chaff imports Coffee husk/chaff is treated differently to beans and often isn’t permitted for general import without additional processing or certification. Don’t mix husk, mulch or cascara in a green‑bean consignment. That is a fast way to a fail.
Practical takeaway: Your best lever is clean product. We dry mill and sort to meet BICON’s “free from husk and extraneous matter” expectation across our lots, whether that’s Sumatra Mandheling Green Coffee Beans or Robusta Lampung Green Coffee Beans (ELB & Grades 2–4).
The 5 biggest mistakes that kill coffee imports
- Picking the wrong BICON case. Selecting a seed or propagation pathway instead of unroasted beans for human consumption. Always confirm the case title mentions human consumption and unroasted coffee beans.
- Vague product descriptions. “Green coffee” with no use or HS code invites questions. Use Coffea spp., HS 0901.11 or 0901.12, “for roasting.”
- Dirty milling. Residual parchment or husk triggers non‑compliance. Specify complete hulling and advanced cleaning at origin, then sample pre‑shipment.
- Phytosanitary certificates without required declarations. If your permit lists an Additional Declaration, copy it exactly. Include fumigation parameters if treated offshore.
- Believing vacuum equals exemption. Vacuum helps quality. It does not override inspection findings or treatment directions.
Quick answers to common questions
Do I need a BICON permit to import green coffee beans from Indonesia into Australia?
Yes. Unroasted beans require a BICON permit. Roasted coffee does not.
What should the phytosanitary certificate say for Indonesian coffee beans?
State the product as unroasted coffee beans. Add “clean and free from pulp, parchment, husk and soil.” Include “free of live insects and quarantine pests.” If fumigated, list methyl bromide parameters. Mirror any Additional Declarations in your permit.
What do I select in BICON’s commodity tree for green coffee beans?
Select the unroasted coffee beans for human consumption case. Use the search bar if the tree wording has changed. Confirm the case notes mention Coffea spp. and human consumption.
Can vacuum‑packed green coffee avoid methyl bromide fumigation in Australia?
No. Packaging doesn’t override inspection. If live insects are detected, DAFF will require treatment, re‑export or destruction.
How long does a BICON coffee import permit take to approve in 2025?
We see 10–15 business days for standard cases. Complex files can extend if DAFF requests more information.
What documents must I upload with my BICON coffee permit application?
Your application may submit without uploads, but we recommend having a supplier declaration, a clear product description with HS code and use, and template phytosanitary wording ready. On arrival, you’ll need permit, invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and the phytosanitary certificate.
What happens if DAFF finds live insects in my green coffee shipment?
They’ll direct methyl bromide fumigation at an approved facility, or offer re‑export or destruction. Expect added cost and 2–5 extra days.
Resources and next steps
If you want coffee that’s milled and bagged precisely to BICON expectations, we can supply cleaned, size‑graded lots across Indonesia. From Bali Natural Green Coffee Beans for fruit‑forward profiles to stable blenders like Past Crop Green Coffee Beans. If you’d like help aligning your permit conditions with a specific product and packaging plan, View our products and then share your draft permit text. We’re happy to pressure‑test it against your intended lot and bagging.
Final thought. BICON rewards clarity and consistency. If your case choice, product description and certificates line up, inspections tend to be routine. And routine is exactly what you want at the border.