2 August 2021
Who does this notice affect?
Importers and brokers of:
- Fresh pomegranates from the United States
- Sphagnum peat and peat with approved additives from countries free of foot and mouth disease (FMD)
- Fresh mature coconuts (husk removed and prayer nuts) from all countries
- Dried coconut products from all countries
- Crushed or ground herbs and spices (capsicum, chilli, allspice, ginger, turmeric, and garlic) from all countries
What has changed?
The department is incorporating several new commodities onto the Compliance Based Intervention Scheme (CBIS). This change is scheduled to take effect on 4 August 2021.
The changes will require you to lodge eligible commodities with an AQIS Commodity Code (ACC) in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS). Where an ACC is required, this will be specified within the relevant BICON case.
For imports of peat with additives where an import permit is required (from countries free from foot and mouth disease (FMD)), the department is currently in the process of writing to impacted stakeholders with Import permits via a Notice of Intention (NOI) form to vary import permits to reflect the new changes. Brokers should consider providing the new permit identification number when lodging their goods.
What do I need to do?
Importers and brokers should continue to lodge documentation to the department as per their current practice (via COLS). When a consignment is lodged in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) under a tariff that has an associated ACC, you must enter the ACC in order to become eligible for CBIS. Consignments lodged without an ACC code will be ineligible to qualify for CBIS.
Example of ICS screen
Further information
More information about CBIS commodities and their eligibility can be found on the departments CBIS webpage.
If you have any further questions, please email Imports (Tier 2- CBIS) or telephone 1800 900 090.