23 July 2020
Who does this notice affect?
Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including vessel masters, freight forwarders, treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers, principle agents and master consolidators—associated with importing goods that require increased intervention during the 2020-21 BMSB risk season.
What has changed?
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the department) has opened the Safeguarding Arrangements Scheme (the scheme) for application for the 2020-21 BMSB risk season. The scheme provides an alternate clearance pathway for goods imported into Australia as sea cargo during the BMSB risk season. It also provides recognition of the ability of approved participants to manage seasonal hitchhiker pest risk offshore, from the point of manufacture to the point of embarkation (point of export) in line with eligibility criteria.
For more information on the scheme including the eligibility criteria and application process, please see 2020-21 Safeguarding Arrangements Scheme.
Further information
For further questions relating to the scheme, please contact the Safeguarding team via email at safeguarding@awe.gov.au
For further information regarding the 2020-21 BMSB seasonal measures, visit our BMSB webpage or contact the department’s Seasonal Pest Policy team via email at SPP@awe.gov.au.