14 May 2021
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, principal shipping agents, and any other operators in the sea container supply and logistics chain or in plant import industries.
What has changed?
As you would be aware, we are implementing urgent actions to reduce the likelihood of khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) entering Australia. The urgent actions are being implemented in 6 phases. Phases 1 to 5 address the risk of khapra beetle entering on imported plants and plant products. Phase 6 addresses the risk of khapra beetle entering as a hitchhiker pest in sea containers.
We have released a revised implementation schedule for the urgent actions (see below).
Alternative treatment options for Phase 3
We recognise that heat treatment or methyl bromide fumigation may not be feasible for some goods imported under Phase 3. As such, we are considering alternative treatment options for goods impacted by Phase 3. We are engaging with peak industry bodies on alternative treatment options. Additional information on any alternatives identified will be published on our website closer to implementation.
Implementation of Phase 6A
We recognise that some of the treatment requirements implemented under Phase 6A may be new to industry. As such, where a treatment certificate is provided with the sea container but does not meet all our requirements as detailed on our website, we will work with treatment providers to improve their understanding of these requirements and where appropriate, facilitate the import of goods within impacted containers. This temporary arrangement will be in place only until 9 July 2021.
Additionally, as the Phase 6A measures for containers being unpacked in rural grain growing areas are being incorporated into the non-commodity information requirements policy and Class 19.1 (NCCC) approved arrangement, the Class 19.1 requirements and conditions policy will be updated. Below are some key dates to note.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 7 June 2021 | A notice of intent to vary the NCCC approved arrangement will be sent. |
| 10 June 2021 | Mandatory Continued Biosecurity Competency (CBC) webinar, relevant to the changes, is scheduled. Information and registration details regarding the webinar will be published closer to the event on the Automatic Entry Processing and Training and accreditation for approved arrangements webpages. |
| 12 July 2021 | The updated version of the Class 19.1 requirements and conditions policy will be published on the Requirements for operating approved arrangements webpage. |
ICS AEI capacity issue
We recently contacted Class 19.1 Approved Arrangement holders to notify them of a temporary Integrated Cargo System (ICS) capacity issue. The issue prevented customs brokers who utilise the Custom Connect Facilities (CCF) to interface with the ICS for FID lodgement from viewing all available AEIs (Entity Identifiers).
This issue has now been resolved. Accordingly, ICS-CCF users should now have full access to the AEI list and follow standard AEI reporting requirements. Further information on these requirements is detailed on our website.
Further information
For further information, see:
- BICON Case: Khapra beetle sea container measures
- Sea container measures to protect against khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) webpage
- Urgent actions to protect against khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) webpage
- Khapra beetle bulletin
- Entity Identifier (AEI)
For all enquiries regarding these measures, please phone 1800 900 090 or email imports@aff.gov.au (please title the subject line of the email with ‘Plant Tier 2 – khapra urgent actions’).