23 June 2021
Who does this notice affect?
All industry members who submit documentation to the department for import assessment via the Cargo Online Lodgement System (COLS) or other departmental approved systems.
What has changed?
Currently, when an industry member makes an amendment to a Full Import Declaration (FID) entry (e.g. duty based amendments) and the amendment is categorised as ‘major’, the department’s system automatically places the entry back under biosecurity control. These major amendments result in an electronic ‘hold’ status being transmitted to the Integrated Cargo System (ICS).
Dependent upon the amendment made, industry members may be required to submit additional documentation and/or request the department to re-finalise the entry. This process can generate additional workloads and some members may experience delays in receiving their next direction.
To assist, the department has recently implemented a system change which will automatically re-finalise in-scope post-delivery amendments (note - a post-delivery amendment is one made to an entry 10 days or greater after a release from biosecurity control has been provided). This change will help streamline the processing of broker initiated amendments and alleviate impacts to both industry and the department.
What is required?
Once an amendment is submitted in the ICS and referred to biosecurity, the department’s system will automatically re-evaluate the entry. This re-evaluation will result in:
- A minor amendment status - resulting in no change to the ICS status and no further action will be required by industry members.
- A major amendment status - resulting in an electronic ‘hold’ status being transmitted to the ICS. Industry members will need to contact the department as per approved channels to seek the entry to be re-evaluated by an officer.
- A major amendment status - resulting in a Final Directives – Finalised Post Delivery Amendment direction being generated whereby no further action will be required. The system will automatically send the direction to the nominated contact e-mail address(es) listed on the FID entry. Industry members who receive this direction will not be required to contact the department to request the amended entry to be re-finalised or lodge additional documentation.
Further information
Please contact the department on 1800 900 090 and follow the correct options to reach the relevant section to assist with entry processing matters.