1 August 2023
Who does this notice affect?
Stakeholders associated with the biosecurity clearance of sea freight containers imported into Australia that are destined for unpack in a rural location. This includes customs brokers, importers, and biosecurity industry participants (BIPs) that hold approval for approved arrangement class 14.4 rural tailgate inspection.
What has changed?
The purpose of this industry advice notice is to provide advice that the department has developed and published new support material to assist BIPs performing class 14.4 activities and to clarify the process for releasing containers from biosecurity control.
The Class 14.4: Rural tailgate inspection informative text and Class 14.4: Rural tailgate inspection awareness video can be accessed through the departments Conditions for operating approved arrangements webpage, and provides detailed information to assist class 14.4 BIPs to comply with the conditions of their arrangement.
The support materials include information on industry direction types, identification and management of biosecurity risks with the container, release of containers from biosecurity control and reporting of inspection outcomes to the department.
Release from biosecurity and documentation requirements for Class 14.4
Class 14.4 BIPs are authorised to release containers from biosecurity control, where:
- the container is determined to be free of biosecurity risk material, and
- a record of the release from biosecurity control has been created by the BIP, in accordance with the conditions of their arrangement.
The BIP's record of release, forms the legislated legal document for the release from biosecurity control under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Once the record of release has been created by the BIP, the container may leave the biosecurity area and the approved arrangement site (even where a ‘conditional clear’ status still exists in the Integrated Cargo System).
It’s important to note that the department does not issue a notice of release (final and release directive notice) for containers that have been released from biosecurity control under the class 14.4 approved arrangement.
While BIPs are not required to provide the record of release to the importer or agent (broker) for the container, it is encouraged. Importers or their agents may seek a copy record of the release from the BIP for their own record keeping and assurance purposes. The transfer of this information between industry parties is subject to commercial agreements, and not regulated by the class 14.4 approved arrangement conditions.
Further information
- Class 14.4 approved arrangement conditions can be found at: agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/arrival/arrangements/requirements.
- General information on RTG inspections can be found at: agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/arrival
- If further information is required about class 14.4 contact: seacargopolicy@aff.gov.au