The Australian Border Force Regulatory Sandbox is live

The Australian Border Force (ABF) has officially announced to Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) that the Regulatory Sandbox website is now active. Interested parties can submit trial proposals through the website starting today.

This launch has been long awaited and is a significant milestone allowing the customs community to propose future-focused trial ideas that may streamline or improve trade related processes and technology. 
 
The guidance material has been updated and merged with the trial proposal submission form.  This is now live on the ABF "Propose a trial" page on the website.  Please use the questions in the guidance as it is an important resource to support your proposal, and will provide you with the best opportunity to strengthen your proposal and provide ABF with the information needed to better understand the idea.
 
As per the website, trial proposals will be assessed based on a phased approach to allow ABF to work together with industry to build the frameworks for the Sandbox and ensure it is working for both Government and industry.

While ABF are keen to receive any trial proposals you may have, their priority will be working through ideas for Phase 1 proposals.
 
Please don't hesitate to contact ABF  if you have questions about how to contribute, propose trial ideas or if you are having any challenges with the website. There is a contact us form on the website, or you can email the team directly at Regulatory.sandbox@ABF.gov.au Please be aware that ABF will only accept trial proposals submitted via the website.
 
While anyone can propose a trial idea, the requirements for eligibility to participate in a trial will be limited to the nature of the trial and the trial specific rules. For Phase 1 of the Regulatory Sandbox, ABF have purposely not defined the General Eligibility Criteria for trial participation.

Instead, for the first phase ABF want to develop rules specific to each trial and monitor trends to co-design and establish the General Eligibility Criteria after the conclusion of the first phase of the Regulatory Sandbox trials.

This will ensure ABF are able to achieve a balance between maximising industry involvement in potential trials, but also managing any potential risks to Government and the border.