Document Assessment, Bookings and Inspection delays -

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) wish to advise that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) has issued Industry Advice Notice 270-2023 providing an update to Document Assessment Activites acknolweding that:

Industry are "currently experiencing delays in receiving their directions and advises that all efforts are being made to manage increased workloads in order to meet published service standards in the Client Service Charter while also effectively managing biosecurity and imported food risks."

In addition to the challenges currently encountered in the Document Assessment domain, there are also delays being experienced with the booking and inspection processing times. 

Members report that it is not uncommon for booking requests for an inspection to take 5-7 days and that once received the 'next available" inspection date is generally 7 days into the future.

Advice from the department is that "This does vary across regions slightly, and most inspections are being booked within 3-4 business days of the date requested."

The upcoming closure of departmental operations over the festive season as outlined in Industry Advice Notice 261-2023 is likely to cause further challenges for members to navigate.