25 October 2023
Who does this notice affect?
Customs brokers, importers, self-reporting importers, freight forwarders, and accredited persons operating under the class 19.1 non commodity for containerised cargo clearance approved arrangement associated with the reporting of FCLs of solar panels (tariff codes 854142, 854143 and 854149) that would be subject to rural tailgate inspections.
What has changed?
The Department had previously identified that consignments of solar panels can pose a WHS risk to staff during rural tailgate inspections when the container doors are opened. All FCLs of solar panels that require a rural tailgate inspection are instead directed for an external container inspection.
A recent system update now allows accredited persons to utilise AEP for these consignments. Accredited persons are no longer required to volunteer consignments of solar panels destined for rural unpack to the Department.
Accredited persons can now use AEP to direct rural destined solar panels through AEP the same as all other consignments subject to rural tailgates. Accredited persons will be issued with the relevant external container inspection direction, specific to the AA class (whether it be a class 1AA or class 14.4 AA).
Further information
For more information about lodging consignments using AEP, please contact AEPsupport@aff.gov.au. For more information about the importation and rural tailgate inspection of solar panels, please contact seacargopolicy@aff.gov.au