14 July 2022
Who does this notice affect?
Approved arrangements operators, customs brokers, importers, and freight forwarders, wishing to create and manage requests for import inspection at sites in Victoria can book them via the new Biosecurity Portal from Wednesday 20 July 2022.
Additionally, from Wednesday 20 July 2022 any requests for import inspections at Victoria sites still using the Request for Inspection (RFI) form should be emailed to the new email address (see below).
The Biosecurity Portal is being deployed in phases and this Victorian launch completes the national rollout.
Who is not affected by this notice?
Clients who require:
- Bulk bookings
- Virtual visual label inspections
- Airway bill requests
- High volume specialist operators (HSVO)
should continue using the existing email-based system with the new email addresses (listed below).
What has changed?
The Department is working to deliver a client and workload management capability to support a cost effective, modern and client focused service delivery model across biosecurity operations. This work is being carried out in close consultation with industry.
Biosecurity Portal
A key part of this work is the introduction of the Biosecurity Portal which will allow clients to create and manage import inspection booking requests, at any time in a centralised online location. The portal will streamline the current manual and resource intensive email process, reducing industry’s effort in managing and tracking import inspection requests. The portal will also allow you to view AIMS direction information issued by the Department.
This ability to create and manage import inspection booking requests and view direction information via an online system is the first function in a broader scope of work intended to modernise and improve the biosecurity system for clients.
New Email Addresses
The Department is also implementing a new system, the Scheduling and Workload Management System (SWMS) which will manage requests for inspections, and the resultant scheduling of these inspections.
As a result, from Wednesday 20 July 2022 any requests for import inspections at Victorian sites, submitted using the RFI form instead of via the portal, should be emailed to the new email address:
Please refer to the FAQ for more information.
The department continues to implement new initiatives and technologies to streamline the way we work and improve our services. This includes changes to our IT systems, the deployment of the Biosecurity Portal to automate the booking process, and automation of our assessment and workload management systems. These initiatives have and will continue to deliver efficiencies in the biosecurity system including time and cost savings to industry.
While we deploy these significant reforms and initiatives, and our staff transition to a new way of operating, we will be closely monitoring for any technical system disruption to processes associated with your import inspection bookings.
What do you need to do?
Please refer to the Biosecurity Portal webpage for further information on how to register yourself – a prerequisite to being able to make bookings via the portal.
Please note that there are 2 registration options:
Option 1: Approved Arrangements, Customs Brokers, and Importers
Option 2: Freight Forwarders, clients without an ABN, and clients with a low volume of import inspection requests.
If you need assistance with registration or with Biosecurity Portal usage, please contact biosecurityportal@aff.gov.au
Further information
More information on the Biosecurity Portal including its functions and how to use it can be found on the Biosecurity Portal webpage.
Enquiries can be directed to biosecurityportal@aff.gov.au
For RFIs submitted via the form and email, please continue to direct your enquiries to the department’s Client Contact Group on 1800 900 090.