Changes to approved arrangements class 19 In relation to rural tailgate inspections and External Verification for eCertificates (EVE) system Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) has received advice from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) advising of the intention to vary approved arrangement class 19 to enable policy changes to approved arrangement class 14.4: rural tailgate inspection, and for the use of the External Verification for eCertificates (EVE) system.

Approved arrangement class 19.1: non commodity for containerised cargo clearance

The proposed changes to approved arrangement class 19.1 will enable accredited persons to refer consignments to an approved arrangement class 14.4: rural tailgate inspection (class 14.4) in certain circumstances. Approved arrangement class 14.4 holders can perform rural tailgate inspections on certain imported containers that are destined for unpack in a rural area.

Approved arrangement class 19.2: automatic entry processing for commodities

The proposed changes to approved arrangement class 19.2 will enable accredited persons to verify government to government electronic certificates using the External Verification for eCertificates (EVE) system. Australia and our trading partners are moving to direct government to government exchange of electronic sanitary and phytosanitary certificates.

To support this, the department is developing an external verification of electronic certificates (EVE) system.

To support these outcomes, variations to approved arrangement class 19 conditions are required.

For further information please refer to Import Industry Advice notice 85-2024

Additionally the proposed variations to classes 19.1 and 19.2 can be accessed at the Notice Board on the website Automatic entry processing (AEP). 

A comparison table for each of the arrangement classes is also available at the Notice Board.

Following completion of the notice period, a decision to vary the arrangements will be made by the Director of Biosecurity. A notice of decision will be sent to class 19 approved arrangement managers.

The varied arrangements will be published on the Requirements for operating approved arrangements website on 27 MAY 2024.