Australian authorities will be given greater powers to help stop unsafe foods from entering the country under proposed new laws.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce on Thursday introduced changes to parliament, prompted by the 2015 hepatitis A outbreak from frozen berries.
The legislation will allow authorities to hold food at the border if there are reasonable grounds to suspect it poses a serious risk to human health.
It also puts greater onus on importers to ensure the food they bring in is safe, or face hefty penalties - including up to 10 years in jail for some offences.
One of the requirements will be that they have internationally recognised food safety controls in place throughout the supply.
"It is essential that we ensure food being brought into Australia is safe," Mr Joyce told parliament.
"As globalisation changes how food is traded around the world, we need to strengthen our laws to meet the changing landscape."
Last financial year, $16 billion worth of food was imported to Australia by around 16,000 different businesses.
Some are brought in as ingredients to be used in the manufacturing of food, which is then either eaten here or exported.
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