Arrival of goods in Australia

Sea containers and breakbulk cargo from countries and ports identified as having documented high levels of contamination, or high risk pests, are considered as high risk pathways. The department refers to these high risk countries or ports as Country Action List (CAL) locations.

Sea containers and break bulk cargo originating/arriving from or transhipping through these countries and ports is referred to as CAL cargo. Due to the increased risk, all CAL cargo is subject to heightened biosecurity measures on arrival including mandatory six-sided inspection of external surfaces and the internal surfaces of empty containers on wharf at the port of discharge prior to release.

The department targets a range of high risk pests and other contaminants (such as soil) on imported sea containers and non-containerised (break bulk) cargo.

All containers from countries listed on the Country Action List (CAL) require full six-sided inspection of external surfaces and the internal surfaces of empty containers prior to release from the terminal. Individual goods and commodities on or within sea containers remain subject to relevant individual biosecurity import conditions on arrival in Australia. Import conditions for goods arriving in Australia can be found using Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON). This may include the requirement for further inspection.

Exporters and shippers are encouraged to ensure that containers are cleaned internally and externally, and that the integrity of the containers is maintained during packing and transport.

Particular attention should be paid to the following areas of the container prior to shipping:

• along bottom rails of containers
• within forklift pockets
• in and around the twist lock fittings
• underside and cross members
• top of the container

The Container Transport Unit (CTU) Code provides advice on the safe packing and transport of sea containers, as well as phytosanitary measures. Annex 6 provides specific information on minimising the risk of recontamination, including measures to remove and manage biosecurity risk material.

Cross contamination can occur at any stage of the pathway where suitable measures are not in place to manage biosecurity risks.

High Level Contamination Management (Tarping of containers)

Sea containers that have been identified as posing a high biosecurity risk due to hitchhiker pests, soil, plant or other contamination must not be moved off the wharf (point of entry) without approval from the department.

Sea containers will be directed for appropriate action to manage the risk, which may also include directions for managing the risk during transit. Where external contamination is likely to dislodge during movement to the cleaning location, the biosecurity officer will direct that the cargo/container must be managed accordingly, for example:

• containerisation of the cargo (if possible)
• part underside tarping if contamination only identified underneath the container
• full envelope tarping if contamination is present on multiple surfaces.

The main types of contaminants found on surfaces of sea containers include:

• Insects – a range of insects can lodge themselves or build nests on shipping containers including ants, wasps, bees, beetles, moths and spiders
• Snails – exotic snails such as the giant African snail and other snail species
• Animals – rodents, geckos and toads are the main vertebrates found in and on shipping containers
• Animal matter – includes animal and bird faeces, bones, skin and hair
• Plants – plants can grow on shipping containers if residual seed has been allowed to germinate with or without contaminating soil. Other plant matter includes leaves and other plant parts
• Soil – soil and soil related contaminants (forklift pockets, the twist lock fittings and underside and cross members)
• Fungi – damp, dark conditions support fungi and other airborne spores can lodge and grow on any soil on container surfaces

The Biosecurity risk treatment guide provides information on the department approved treatment options available to address a specific biosecurity risk.

Industry must be aware of seasonal measures and new and emerging requirements before shipping goods and cargo into Australia.

Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB)

To manage the seasonal risk of BMSB (Halyomorpha Halys), the department implements additional measures each year which apply to targeted goods manufactured in or shipped from target risk countries, and that have been shipped between a set period and to vessels that berth, load, or tranship from target risk countries within the same period. Further information is available on the BMSB Webpage.

Khapra Beetle

Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) is a small but serious pest, as such, the department is implementing urgent actions to address the risk of khapra beetle entering Australia. These actions are being implemented in phases and will result in changes to import conditions for plant products and sea containers. Further information is available on the Urgent actions to protect against khapra beetle webpage.

All sea containers that will be unpacked in rural areas must undergo a Rural Tailgate inspection (RTG) at the port of discharge. The requirement for an inspection is based on delivery postcode classifications.

A departmental officer can perform RTG inspections at an approved metropolitan Approved Arrangement (AA) site and selected wharf locations. When class 14.4 AA conditions are met, an approved Biosecurity Industry Participant (BIP) can also perform a RTG at a metropolitan AA site.

During a RTG, a biosecurity officer or approved BIP will inspect all external surfaces, including the underside, of the container. They will then open the container doors and inspect the doors, seals, walls and floor area for signs of biosecurity risk material. This includes, but not limited to, inspecting for animals, invertebrates, plant or animal material, soil and other contaminants.

A RTG consists of an internal and external inspection. The following exceptions require an external container inspection only:

• consignments containing dangerous goods
• consignments containing hard frozen goods
• returning Australian meat goods
• diplomatic consignments
• ISO tanks

Departmental rural tailgate inspection requirements

The initial inspection must be conducted on:

• a registered truck, with a registered skeletal trailer that allows good visibility under the container, or
• a registered truck, with a registered flatbed trailer with height extended twist locks where the container is raised above the flatbed platform to allow for good visibility under the container, or
• a sea container inspection stand that complies with the specifications for sea freight container inspection stands.

The AA site must have an approved container inspection stand and wash bay. This is in case external contamination on the container is detected. If detected, cleaning and reinspection are required. Re-inspection of the container can only be performed on the inspection stand.

The department has implemented an approved arrangement, class 14.4 Rural tailgate inspection. This arrangement has been integrated into BICON, and associated class 19 systems and policy. Class 14.4 authorises the Biosecurity Industry Participant (BIP), operating either a class 1.1 or class 1.3 sea and air freight depot, with approved class 4.3 wash bay facilities to perform the rural tailgate inspection on certain containers destined for unpack in a rural classified location.

The scope for eligible class 14.4 sea containers includes:

• Impediment free containers,
• Containers where the commodity has been assessed and released on documentation or, with discussion with the department, under certain permit conditions set by the department,
• Containers with commodities requiring mandatory treatment prior to a rural tailgate inspection being performed.

Where contamination is found that is not permitted to be managed by BIPs, or where any biosecurity risk of concern is found within the container, it must be immediately reported to the department, as per the approved arrangement class 14.4 conditions.

Interim lodgement process for other than impediment free containers

The department is working to change ICT systems. These changes will allow accredited persons, or brokers, to self-direct these expanded types of containers via AEP NCCC (class 19.1) using one of the two existing Class 14.4 concern codes. Until these changes are implemented (expected mid 2024), an interim process for lodging will be required to facilitate the change in scope.

To use class 14.4 BIP inspection:

• Accredited persons or brokers must continue to lodge as per the current process through AEP NCCC using the RURL concern code.

On lodgement of documentation in COLS, accredited persons or brokers MUST add one of the following statements into the comment field in COLS. This will identify that they are requesting this to be processed as a class 14.4 industry performed inspection:

• Approved Arrangement – AA Rural Tailgate inspection direction requested.
  or
• Approved Arrangement – AA Rural Tailgate Ext. inspection direction requested.

During this interim process, the authorised person or brokers must advise the department during the initial lodgement of documentation in COLS that a class 14.4 inspection is required. Failure to do so will result in the original direction of a departmental inspection being applied.

Class 14.4 Industry support material

The class 14.4: Rural tailgate inspection informative text and Class 14.4: Rural tailgate inspection awareness video have been developed to provide detailed information to assist class 14.4 BIPs comply with the conditions of their arrangement. 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.

Class 14.4: Rural tailgate inspection informative text

Class 14.4: Rural tailgate inspection awareness video

Dangerous and/or Hazardous Goods: External inspection Direction

If it is known or there is any indication that a container to be inspected by a BIP is carrying dangerous goods, the department will not require the BIP to perform an internal container inspection. An external only inspection direction (REAA) must be sought and be performed.

The Container Inspection Record must reflect that the goods were identified as dangerous, to prevent delays in processing and ICS Clear status.

The department defines dangerous goods as consignments or goods which present a potential work health and safety risk, for example, explosives, gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidising substances, toxic and infections substances, radioactive material, corrosives and other hazardous material. Importers of dangerous goods will remain responsible for:

• Providing evidence that acceptable packing and dunnage was used in the consignment.
• Advising the department of any contamination or non-compliant packaging or evidence of pest found when unpacking the container/s.

Release from biosecurity and documentation requirements for Class 14.4

The release from biosecurity and documentation requirements for class 14.4 on inspected sea containers are different to those for a departmental performed inspection.

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 record of release from biosecurity control forms the legislated legal document for release from biosecurity control under the Biosecurity Act 2015.

BIPs may allow the container to leave the biosecurity area and the approved arrangement site (even where a ‘conditional clear’ status still exists in the Integrated Cargo System). The department does not issue a notice of release (final and release directive notice) for containers that have been released from biosecurity control by a BIP approved for class 14.4 as the record of release replaces this notice.

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 of the record of release from the BIP for their own record keeping and assurance purposes. The transfer of this information between industry parties is subject to commercial arrangements and not regulated by AA class 14.4 conditions.

Once the department receives the BIPs container inspection record information, the departmental entry is finalised , and the Integrated Cargo System ICS updated to show a ‘clear’ status.

Departmental Auditing

In AA class 14.4, the legislative ‘release point’ is the BIPs creation of a record of release from biosecurity control document. Auditors may ask BIPs for this document when assessing compliance activities. Departmental auditors are aware of the class requirements. They will not request a department-issued notice of release (final and release directive notice) for containers released under AA class 14.4.

Departmental auditors can verify BIP Container Inspection Record outcomes regardless of how they are submitted. They can use the biosecurity portal, PDF form or third-party app. Submissions reported via the biosecurity portal will be assessed against the status of “submitted”.

Lodgement of inspection results

Class 14.4 BIPs can lodge container inspection outcomes using one of three different methods,

• The Biosecurity Portal or
• The Rural tailgate container inspection record PDF or
• Submission via a third party application.

The preferred method of lodgement is via the portal, as it provides live verification of data being entered to immediately identify errors and reduce processing times. The portal also provides the BIP with a wholistic view of relevant class directions and current status.

While multiple options to submit inspection results are available, it is important BIPs do not submit container inspection information though more than one method. Doing so will cause unnecessary delays in container inspection records being finalised and ICS status updated.

Further information and reference materials

• For operational assistance with class 14.4 directions contact the Tailgate team.
• Quick reference guides on using the Biosecurity portal, including lodgement of inspection results are available on the biosecurity portal support webpage.
• Information on class 14.4 conditions can be found on the department’s Approved Arrangements webpage.
• For questions regarding rural tailgate Inspections performed by the department or a Biosecurity Industry Participant under Class 14.4 contact Sea Cargo Policy.

The department also has joint government-industry initiatives such as the Sea Container Hygiene System (SCHS). The SCHS gives the department a high level of confidence that containers shipped from recognised facilities and load ports, arrive in Australia free from biosecurity risk concerns. The SCHS also provides an opportunity for the department to recognise compliant parties with reduced intervention on arrival, ensuring the timely release of cargo from the wharf and a reduction in associated costs for industry.

The department undertakes regular monitoring, surveillance and response measures such as Cargo Compliance Verification (CCV) inspections at and around wharf areas and empty container parks for unwanted exotic insects and pests. The department also works closely with state and territory agencies and industry during heightened biosecurity periods such as brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) season or where post border detections have been identified.

Cargo arriving in Australia can often be cleared by the department using declarations and information provided by the importer. To decrease the likelihood that your goods will need to be opened and inspected, provide all required documents that need to accompany your goods.

The department will issue the importer with a directive that goods are released from biosecurity control or if any actions are required, e.g. inspection, treatment, isolation, hold pending further information or insect identification. For further information on the department’s approach to imported cargo, view the Imported Cargo Compliance factsheet or visit the Clearance and inspection webpage.

It is important that biosecurity incidents are reported as soon as practicable to limit the risk associated with any pest or disease entering, establishing or spreading into Australian territory.

You are required by law to report certain biosecurity incidents if you are:

• a person in charge of goods subject to biosecurity control, or an exposed good order; or
• a person in charge of an aircraft or vessel carrying goods subject to biosecurity control, or an exposed goods order; and
• you become aware of a reportable biosecurity incident in relation to those goods.

A report can be made by calling 1800 798 636 or by completing the Reportable Biosecurity Incident form.