1 September 2023
Who does this notice affect?
Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including Master Consolidators, vessel masters, freight forwarders, treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers and principal agents—associated with shipping or importing goods that require increased intervention during the 2023-24 BMSB risk season.
What has changed?
- Addition of Uzbekistan to the Target Risk Country List
- New Master Consolidator (MC) Declaration Portal
- Updated Master Consolidator User Guide for new MC Declaration Portal
- Creation of BMSB Frequently Asked Questions webpage
The department’s BMSB webpage has been updated to reflect the updated measures.
Changes to lodgement of Master Consolidator (MC) declarations for LCL / FAK containers subject to BMSB
Master Consolidators who are already registered as users will not be required to re-register for access to the new portal. Current user details have already been migrated to the new DAFF Forms Portal.
At completion of this migration on 1 August 2023, users were sent an email requesting them to log into the new portal and create a new password for their individual user ID. Please refer to Import Industry Advice Notice 157-2023.
If you have not received an email with instructions to log into the new portal, please contact spp@aff.gov.au.
This process needs to be completed to enable access the MC Declaration form. Instructions for registered users who need to activate their account in the new portal can be found here.
New users must complete a registration form and send back to spp@aff.gov.au, prior to signing up or activating their account in the new portal.
The DAFF Forms Portal will utilise Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) to verify access to the portal. Users will be required to set up the MFA as part of the log in process.
Guidance material for setting up the MFA and an updated user guide will be available on our Management of LCL / FAK containers section of the BMSB webpage.
Safeguarding
The Safeguarding Arrangements Scheme (the scheme) is available for the new BMSB Season. The scheme offers an alternative clearance pathway for goods imported as sea cargo in six hard sided shipping containers during the BMSB risk season.
Safeguarding Arrangements applications for the 2023-24 season are now open. Further information can be found on the Safeguarding webpage. For further information email safeguarding@aff.gov.au.
Offshore treatment provider list changes
There will no longer be a treatment provider list specific to the BMSB scheme, all offshore treatment providers registered under the BMSB scheme will now be listed on the List of treatment providers.
Goods subject to BMSB measures will still require a BMSB specific treatment certificate.
A new status category ‘Under review’ has been included. This status is applied where indicators of non-compliance are identified, and the biosecurity risk must be managed while a review into treatment provider suitability takes place.
Offshore treatment providers that were registered under the scheme during the previous BMSB risk season must complete the application emailed to them directly or the application form here, to commence their registration process for the upcoming BMSB risk season. For further information email bmsbtreatments@aff.gov.au.
Further information
Further information regarding BMSB seasonal measures, can be found on the BMSB webpage agriculture.gov.au/bmsb or for policy information email spp@aff.gov.au.