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FTA / APSA / Hunt & Hunt Lawyers meet with the Commissioner of the Australian Border Force

On Friday 27 January 2017, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA), Hunt & Hunt Lawyers and Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) representatives were privileged to meet privately with the Commissioner of the Australian Border Force (ABF), Mr. Roman Quaedvlieg. It was agreed that this will become an annual event to start the year. Topics included future intervention models, FTA and APSA's growth and representative base, the growing importance of Customs-to-Customs conversations in reducing Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade (NTBs) as well as the progress of the Australian Trusted Trader program.
 
We conveyed our appreciation for engagement from senior levels of representatives from the ABF and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP)who at all times have demonstrated a willingness to listen to the needs of industry, as long as those needs are balanced and articulated fairly. We look forward to an ongoing constructive, positive and mutually respectful relationship with the ABF and DIBP for the year ahead.

TASMANIAN SHIPPERS FORUM

Photo cortesy of DP World - L to R - chief corporate development officer, Brian Gillespie with Tasports chief executive Paul Weedon

We are receiving overwhelming support from across government and the private sector representatives for our inaugural Tasmanian Shippers Forum ... read more

Service tax on cargo landed in India on / after 22 January 2017

Last Friday 27 January 2017, APSA received notification of a new tax on pre-paid imports into India from a member of the Australian Cotton Shippers Association, who APSA supports for matters relating to shipping line services.

It appears to be a significant service tax (4.5%) levied by the Indian Ministry of Finance for all cargoes landed in India on/after 22 January 2017. The service tax is to be collected by the foreign-owned shipping lines, who have already attempted to start collecting the tax from Australian exporters. Up until recently an exemption was given on pre-paid ocean freight.

APSA had not received any information on this yet from the Australian Government and it is unclear whether or not the tax should be collected from the Australian shippers or from the local consignees. If is to be collected from Australian shippers then we do expect an outcry from the export community.
 
Clarification has been sought from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

In the meantime please refer to the official notices from the Indian Ministry of Finance:

Indian Service Tax Amendment Jan 2017.pdf
Notification No 1-2017-ST.pdf
Notification No 2-2017-ST.pdf
Notification No 3-2017-ST.pdf

Global Shippers Forum update

The year 2017 promises to be extremely busy as GSF continues to grow and support shippers' at the global level. This email is to brief you on important upcoming events in February and later in 2017, and to invite you to take part in an important survey on the IMO/ILO/UNECE Cargo Transport Units CTU Code of Practice ... login required

IATA Shippers Survey 2017

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has just launched the 2^nd IATA Global Shipper Survey. 
 
With this short questionnaire (it should take no more than 5 minutes to complete), IATA would like to have the perceptions, experiences and expectations of Australian shippers' when using air to transport their goods.This will help IATA better understand this key constituent in the cargo chain and help improve the services provided.

Respondents will have until the 15th February 2017 - aggregated responses will be shared at the next IATA's World Cargo Symposium that will take place in Abu Dhabi from 14th to 16th of March 2017.
 
The link to the survey is available HERE

Maersk Collision

Please be informed that the Maersk Brani voyage 703S, on the OC1 service en route to New Zealand and Australia, was involved in a collision with another vessel on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal anchorage area ... login required

Detention Policy- HAZ containers

APSA and FTA recently brought to the attention of CMA CGM concerns raised by members about the change in "Hazardous Equipment" container (detention) free time to 4 days for imports and 15 days for exports.
 
We are pleased to advise the positive response to our engagemet with a decision CMA CGM to withdraw the HAZ D&D tariff and going forward. We have been advised that charges will be applicable based on the standard dry tariff which offers 7 free days to importers and 18 days to exporters .
 
We thank the CMA-CGM team for not only listening to the concerns of industry but also working quickly to address them, to the benefit of all shippers
 
Travis Brooks-Garrett (Secretariat APSA / Partner FTA)

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Australian Peak Shippers Association Inc. (APSA) 

Date: Monday 27 February 2017.
Times: 12.30pm to 2.00pm.
Venue: 
Visy industries Offices – Boardroom 18
Freshwater Place.
Level 11, 2 Southbank Blvd. Southbank VIC 3006.

Please confirm your attendance to me at robert.coode@auspsa.com.

Please note that all attending must be financial members of APSA.

Robert Coode - Executive President, APSA

FTA 2017 CPD & CBC Program - Early Bird Registration - NOW OPEN !

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) continues to set the standard in professional development - by simply attending our Autumn and Spring sessions, you will satisfy your 2017/2018 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and Continued Biosecurity Competency (CBC) compliance requirements. 

EARLY BIRD RATES APPLY - REGISTER NOW!
FIRST 50 MEMBERS IN SYD / MEL AND FIRST 25 FOR BNE
 
Melbourne 3 May  2017,11am to 5pm – 15 CPD points + CBC 
Sydney 17 May 2017 11am to 5pm – 15 CPD points + CBC 
Brisbane 31 May 2017, 11am to 5pm – 15 CPD points

Melbourne 6 Sept 2017,11am to 5pm – 15 CPD points + CBC
Sydney 11 Oct 2017 11am to 5pm – 15 CPD points + CBC 
Brisbane 25 Oct 2017, 11am to 5pm – 15 CPD points+ CBC 

ANAO Review - Biosecurity Legislation

The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) report on the Implementation of the Biosecurity Legislative Framework has been tabled in Parliament. 

The ANAO examined the Biosecurity Legislation Implementation Programme's governance and project management frameworks; the development of the associated delegated legislation, administrative practice and business processes; and the department's engagement with internal and external stakeholders.
 
The report contains one recommendation relating to measuring the anticipated benefits from the implementation: 

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources should:

• finalise and implement the Benefits Realisation Framework as a priority; and

• ensure that the Benefits Realisation Framework is effective in assessing the impact of the introduction of the new biosecurity legislative framework and the value of the reduction in costs and regulatory burden for external stakeholders. 

Feedback from the department is that implementation of this recommendation is well underway and will continue as the legislative programme continues to roll-out.

Raw Prawn Update #5

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has introduced a "Prawn Liaison Officer" ... login required

The Prawn Suspension Q&A webpage has been updated.
 
The key changes are:

• Addition of a new question: Are Australian caught prawns which have been sent for processing overseas affected by the suspension?

• Amendments to questions: What are the new sampling protocols for uncooked prawns? and  What are the new sampling protocols for uncooked marinated prawns (wet or dry)?

Have you completed your Continued Biosecurity Competency training ?

Included in our growing library of content are recordings of the "CBC Mandatory Sessions" delivered by Department of Agriculture and Water Resources at our face-to-face events.

Now available online are the following: 

• Continued Biosecurity Competency - Mandatory Session 1 for 2016 (CPD Stream A - DOA009) - recorded session delivered by Andrew Lieschke and Julie Simms from the Department of Agriculture & Water Resources - Sydney 6 April 2016

• Continued Biosecurity Competency - Mandatory Session 2 for 2016 (CPD Stream A - DOA012) - recorded session presented by Julie Weymouth and Angus Martin from the Department of Agriculture & Water Resources - Sydney 21 October - FTA Border & Biosecurity Compliance Session. NEW

After viewing the recordings and completing the online assessments you receive certification to demonstrate CBC compliance to maintain your 19.1 NCCC and 19.2 AEPCOMM accreditation.

Each recording and assessment package is available via www.ComplianceNetFTA.com - $38.50 (incl GST).

NOTE - For more than 3 bookings, please contact me at czalai@FTAlliance.com.au

Counterfeit Shipping Container.

A counterfeit shipping container (also known as a fake, cloned or re-birthed container) is a container that has had its unique identifier erased from its exterior and replaced with that of another legitimate containers unique identifier.

The counterfeit container can then be used as a substitute for the copied container and may be used to facilitate a range of border related offences. Border Watch has produced an Indicator Sheet ... read more

Changes to PBLIS Penalties

Last week the following changes took effect in terms of the Port Botany Landside Improvement Strategy (PBLIS) rules:

1. Late Penalty - When a truck arrives late, all bookings from the truck manifest get charged a late fee.
2. Late Penalty - Will be reduced if it was because of the Terminal
3. TTT Penalty - Waived for trucks without a transponder in Q1 2017
4. Bookings - Cannot list a slot once the "type" of slot is changed

Click on this link to see further detail and understand what it means for you: https://help.1-stop.biz/display/VBSE2/Release+Jan+2017

For more information about the rules contact CMCC by emailing them: landsideimprovement@transport.nsw.gov.au

Paul Zalai - Director FTA

General

30.1.2017 - CBRE FEATURE PROPERTY - A2, 2-8 MCPHERSON STREET, BANKSMEADOW, NSW 2019
... read more

27.1.2017 - VALE - IAN WARD GARLING 13/02/1950 - 24/01/2017

It is with great sadness that we advise of the passing of Ian Garling last Tuesday after a short battle with cancer. Ian was a long time employee of Manton Air-Sea Pty Ltd having started with the company in the late 1960's and went on to become Managing Director, Ian retired from Manton's in 2013 and moved to the central coast after more than 40 years with the company. ... read more

23.1.2017 - FTA 2017 CPD & CBC PROGRAM - EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION - NOW OPEN !

PRESENTATIONS - AUTUMN 2017 - Autumn 2017 - 15 CPD points / CBC session 1 (for new accreditation period) ... read more

24.1.2017 - PORT BOTANY OFFICE SPACE

ACF have some office space to rent on-site within the Port Botany preciinct. ... read more

Agriculture

30.1.2017 - RAW PRAWN UPDATE #5

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has introduced a "Prawn Liaison Officer"... login required

25.1.2017 - DAWR - INDUSTRY ADVICE NOTICE 07-2017 – BICON CASE STRUCTURE AMENDMENTS TO TIMBER PRODUCTS

Who does this notice affect? - This notice is of interest to importers of timber and timber products and associated industry participants and retailers.

What's changed? - As a part of the Import Conditions Review for Timber commodities, the following BICON cases have been updated/created and will be implemented on 9/02/2017. ... login required

24.1.2017 - ANAO REVIEW - BIOSECURITY LEGISLATION

The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) report on the Implementation of the Biosecurity Legislative Framework has been tabled in Parliament. The ANAO examined the Biosecurity Legislation Implementation Programme's governance and project management frameworks; the development of the associated delegated legislation, administrative practice and business processes; and the department's engagement with internal and external stakeholders. ... login required

24.1.2017 - DAWR - WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) AGRICULTURE-RELATED TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE (TBT) NOTIFICATIONS
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has circulated the following TBT notifications relating to agriculture, food and or forestry products. These notifications have been forward from Australia's TBT enquiry point in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Obtaining a notification:You can obtain the notification document from the WTO docs online website . In the 'Document Symbol' line enter the notification number e.g. G/TBT/N/BRA/579 and click on 'Search'  ... login required

Border

30.1.2017 - DIBP - NOTICE NO.2017/03 - CUSTOMS TARIFF WORKING PAGE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection will end Customs Tariff Working Page and Notice subscription services as of 30 June 2017. No new subscriptions will be accepted as of the date this notice is published. ... read more

30.1.2017 - DIBP - NOTICE NO.2017/02 INDEXATION OF CUSTOMS DUTY RATES ON EXCISE-EQUIVALENT GOODS ON 1 FEBRUARY 2017

FTA MEMBER BULLETIN
A recurring question from Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) customs broker members is whether it is an acceptable practice to rely on a tariff classification provided by an importer. This issue was again raised during the recent webinar delivered by Russsell Wiese (Principal, Hunt & Hunt Lawyers). ... login required

28.1.2017 - DIBP - NOTICE NO.2017/02 INDEXATION OF CUSTOMS DUTY RATES ON EXCISE-EQUIVALENT GOODS ON 1 FEBRUARY 2017
This notice sets out the new customs duty rates for certain excise-equivalent goods, including spirits, beers and fuel products, operative from 1 February 2017.  ... login required

28.1.2017 - DIBP - TRADE AND GOODS COMPLIANCE

27.1.2017 - ABF - MELBOURNE MAN CHARGED WITH IMPORTING STEROIDS

27.1.2017 - TC GAZETTE 2017/7 - 25TH JANUARY 2017

25.1.2017 - COUNTERFEIT SHIPPING CONTAINER

A counterfeit shipping container (also known as a fake, cloned or re-birthed container) is a container that has had its unique identifier erased from its exterior and replaced with that of another legitimate containers unique identifier. ... read more

Industry

ANTI-DUMPING NOTICES

The Anti-Dumping Commission investigates alleged dumping and subsidisation of goods imported into Australia and imposes duties to address material injury to the Australian Industry that manufactures similar or the same goods. The work of the Commission complies with rules of the World Trade Organization and Australian legislation. ... login required

Sea

30.1.2017 - SERVICE TAX ON CARGO LANDED IN INDIA ON / AFTER 22 JANUARY 2017

Last Friday 27 January 2017, APSA received notification of a new tax on pre-paid imports into India from a member of the Australian Cotton Shippers Association, who APSA supports for matters relating to shipping line services. ... login required

30.1.2017 - GSF MEMBERS BRIEFING: UPCOMING EVENTS & PLAN FOR 2017

Dear GSF Member - The year 2017 promises to be extremely busy as GSF continues to grow and support shippers' at the global level. This email is to brief you on important upcoming events in February and later in 2017, and to invite you to take part in an important survey on the IMO/ILO/UNECE Cargo Transport Units CTU Code of Practice. ... login required

26.1.2017 - PB - OPERATIONAL NOTIFICATION #13: PORT DRIVE UPGRADE – PILING WORKS START ON SUNDAY 29 JANUARY 2017

Piling work for the new overpass at Kite Street will start from 6pm on Sunday 29 January 2017, weather and ground conditions permitting. This activity will be undertaken out of hours from 6pm to 6am, Monday to Friday for approximately six weeks, to minimise the impacts on local traffic. ... login required

25.1.2017 - DETENTION POLICY- HAZ CONTAINERS

APSA and FTA recently brought to the attention of CMA CGM concerns raised by members about the change in "Hazardous Equipment" container (detention) free time to 4 days for imports and 15 days for exports. ... read more

Air

30.1.2017 - IATA SHIPPERS SURVEY 2017

... read more

UPCOMING EVENTS