27 June 2023
Who does this notice affect?
All foreign force personnel, brokers, commercial operators and biosecurity industry participants involved with the onshore clearance of foreign force military equipment imported via air or sea freight for use in the Talisman Sabre 2023 (TS23) Combined Military Activity (CMA).
What has changed?
Documentation Assessment & Entry Lodgement
To align with current Australian Border Force (ABF) lodgement requirements, the department will no longer facilitate the clearance of foreign force military equipment imports through the creation of manual entries in the Agriculture Import Management System (AIMS).
All imported foreign force military equipment for TS23 should be lodged by a licensed customs broker in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) using a Full Import Declaration (FID). When lodging the FID, customs brokers should ensure that the correct tariff codes are used so that the appropriate concessions and Community Protection Profiles (CPPs) are applied to the consignments.
All documentation relevant to the shipment must be submitted to the department for assessment via the Cargo Online Lodgement System (COLS).
Note: Normal assessment periods apply for military equipment imported for use in TS23. Customs brokers should ensure shipment documentation is lodged a minimum of five (5) business days prior to arrival of goods for sea freight and two (2) business days for air freight to avoid clearance delays.
Offshore Pre-shipment Inspected Cargo
To assist with the clearance of foreign force military equipment imports that have been subject to DAFF offshore pre-shipment inspection, a clearance letter is available on request from the department’s Military team (military@aff.gov.au) for inclusion with shipment documentation in COLS.
All offshore pre-shipment inspected cargo will be subject to a verification inspection on arrival in Australia. Imported foreign force military equipment which has not been subject to this process will be required to undergo standard onshore intervention.
Inspection Bookings
Once an inspection direction has been issued, brokers should email a copy of the directions to the department’s Military team (military@aff.gov.au). The Military team will then co-ordinate inspection bookings with the relevant regional Cargo Inspection teams.
Note: Inspection bookings will be allocated in line with standard departmental booking procedures. Customs brokers should ensure that directions are submitted to the Military team requesting an inspection booking with sufficient lead time to avoid delays.
Further information
If you require further information, please contact the Military team via email (military@aff.gov.au). Additional information about biosecurity requirements for visiting foreign forces is available on the department’s website.