Further to our previous notices around BMSB, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) will be participating in a Department of Agriculture Cargo Consultative Committee (DCCC) meeting tomorrow representing our members interest.
We will be seeking greater clarity, guidance and up to date information around the following:
Emerging Countries: This notice was listed yesterday 8 October 2018 "What happens to your goods on arrival during the BMSB season"
Emerging BMSB risk countries - In addition to the measures of mandatory treatment for target high risk goods and increased onshore intervention of target risk goods from the nine target risk countries, the department will also be undertaking a lower rate of random onshore inspections from identified emerging risk countries.
Containerised target high risk goods selected for inspection will be sent for a full unpack on arrival as the department continues to monitor the risk status of emerging pathways. Break bulk target high risk goods selected for inspection will be directed for an on wharf inspection.
Identified emerging risk countries include all other countries in Europe. All other non-European countries are also targeted for random inspections to monitor the presence of BMSB.
FTA understands that there will not be a definitive list and any Country could potentially fall into this category. However, we understand the department have three distinctive categories:
Target risk CountriesOther European Countries and some North Asian Countries (random inspection levels are low and focusing on Target High Risk Goods)Rest of the World (random inspection levels are low and focusing on Target High Risk Goods)
Random onshore inspections
FTA has asked if this can be limited in situations where there are multiple containers? i.e. Random FID selected with 7 FCL's are all 7 subject to unpack /inspect or will the department use some flexibility to select possible 1 or 2 for random sampling?
FTA is working with the Department to have some flexibility in this space and we expect further development on this issue post DCCC tomorrow.
Processing and Inspection times
There is much feedback from members on delays and lack of transparency. We have raised this issue a number of times with the department and there is nothing coming back accept to "expect extended delays".
FTA has requested transparency on Service Standards versus Actual processing times.
FTA understands that the department is currently testing some automated solutions which should assist in this regard. We expect to get additional information at tomorrow's DCCC.
As members will be aware this is peak season, volumes are up around 30% on last year and the amount of overseas treatments are lower than anticipated. We strongly recommend, offshore treatment and lodgement of Documents as soon as possible.
Cargo Hold Reports
From the department's website: All LCL/FAK containers shipped from France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Russia, and the United States of America will be held by the department under biosecurity control at the wharf. This is regardless of whether they contain target high risk, target risk or all other goods. The profile used to manage these holds in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) will be registered as a GAS profile, which is also used to manage containers from Giant African Snail (GAS) countries.
The department is also trailing automated systems to assist in this regard and we expect an update at tomorrow's DCCC meeting.
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