Brisbane CPD & CBC - final session for Autumn 2017

We will be hosting our final Autumn 2017 CPD & CBC - Border and Biosecurity Compliance Program next week (Wednesday 31 May 2017 - Novotel, Brisbane Airport) - refer to our program and event registration details ... read more

Registrations now open for Spring 2017

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) continues to set the standard in professional development - register now !

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

Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement launched - public submissions open 

On 16 May 2017, Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister, the Hon Steven Ciobo MP, launched free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ... login required

Cyber Security - statutory obligations and business continuity

As a result of the attacks, the forwarder's network was down for 21 days. This included the forwarder's cargo/order tracking software and web based warehouse management system, which was severely compromised. This resulted in the forwarder's customers having no on line visibility which caused stress and anxiety for the forwarder and their customers ... read more

Please also refer to our commentary as published yesterday in Lloyds List Australia ... read more

A snapshot of last week's CPD / CBC event

A selection of photos are available on our Facebook page ... read more

Australian Trusted Trader and Port Reforms at our Women in Logistics corporate event

KEYNOTE ADDRESS - LIBBY LYONS (DIRECTOR - WORKPLACE GENDER EQUALITY AGENCY)

• Wednesday 26 July 2017 (2pm - 5pm) Stamford Hotel - Mascot (Sydney)

• FTA / APSA members $99 (incl GST) / Non-members $110 (incl GST)

• Champagne and light lunch

We encourage FTA and APSA members to host a sponsored table of 10 to host your clients at this informative event addressing:

• Sneha Chatterjee (Chief Superintendent - Australian Border Force) - key developments in relation to the Australian Trusted Trader program:

• Libby Lyons (Director - Workplace Gender Equality Agency) - positive effects of gender equality and workplace diversit

• Paul Scurrah (CEO DP World) - port / logistics reforms

Invite your clients to this corprate event - sponsored table of 10 includes recognition of your company on the program and table signage - $990 (inc GST)

Caroline Zalai - FTA / APSA

Fatal Crash Investigation - Chain of Responsibility (CoR)

Join us at our CoR Forum

Yarraville Club, Melbourne
31 May 2017 - 10am followed by buffet lunch
CTAA / FTA / APSA / ICHCA members - $38.50
Non- members - $48.50

GST on Port Services Charges

Importers and customs brokers currently face delays in lodging import declarations as a result of inconsistent Goods & Services Tax (GST) treatment of port services charges (PSCs) by freight forwarders. With the support of the GST experts at Crowe Horwath, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) has drafted an industry bulletin to establish a practical and consistent industry practice to facilitate early statutory reporting which in turn will avoid unnecessary storage costs and delivery delays of import consignments.
 
FTA representatives have also engaged with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) have received advice from the Deputy Commissioner that the draft notice is correct in regard to the interpretation of the relevant provisions of A New Tax System (Goods and Services tax) Act 1999 (GST Act).
 
While this advice gives us a level of assurance that we are heading in the right direction, we now are looking to engage with the wider FTA membership to ensure that we have considered all scenarios and that our final notice, when released, meets the needs of the import sector.
 
We will be hosting a webinar at 12:00 – 12:45 AEST on Thursday 25 May 2017 to present our draft notice. This is NOT a CPD session, nor is it a session to provide technical advice. The webinar will be used as a forum to seek your feedback to facilitate any changes to our final notice.

Melbourne airfreight event for forwarders and airfreight exporters

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) is proud to support the Cargo Club of Australia in their next business and networking luncheon on Friday 26 May 2017 at 12pm at the Mantra Hotel, Tullamarine.
 
If you're a shipper or freight forwarder involved in airfreight, this is an unmissable event.

 
Speakers will include executives from Menzies Aviation, Air New Zealand and Andrew Hyles, Head of the Air Security Taskforce for the Office of Transport Security.

A key topic of the day will be the new requirements for US-bound air cargo commencing on 1 July 2017 and how those requirements will be satisfied by the airlines; the CTOs and, of course, the regulator.
 
As always, it will also be the perfect opportunity to network with industry colleagues and to meet prospective clients.
 
If you would like to attend please email Steve Brogan, President of the Cargo Club, at aircargoclub1@gmail.com

Travis Brooks-Garrett - FTA / APSA

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & WATER RESOURCES

Continued Biosecurity Competency (CBC) - new requirements

CBC Session 17 - 18/01

Accredited Persons with 19.1. NCCC - must undertake CBC information session 17 - 18/01 and complete this by 31 March 2018. This session will be delivered by Department of Agriculture & Water Resources representatives at our upcoming face-to-face events in Melbourne (3 May 2017), Sydney (17 May 2017) and Brisbane (31 May 2017) - accreditation is issued on attendance basis (i.e. no assessment required) ... read more

For those FTA members that cannot attend one of these events, we will make available a recording of the session via www.ComplianceNetFTA.com  - please note that this option will require the completion of an online assessment ($38.50 incl GST).

CBC Session 17 - 18/02

Accredited Persons with 19.2. AEPCOMM - must undertake:

• the above referenced CBC information session 17 - 18/01 (must be completed by 31 March 2018);   AND

• CBC Activity17 - 18/02 (assessment is mandatory and must be completed by 31 July 2017).

GOOD NEWS!

Our content and assessment for CBC Activity 17 - 18/02 has been approved by the department and is NOW available - www.ComplianceNetFTA.com  ($55 incl GST).

Caroline Zalai - FTA / APSA

General

20.5.2017 - CYBER SECURITY – STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS AND BUSINESS CONTINUITY 
Recent global cyber-attacks via a malicious email campaign, sending nearly five million emails per hour, sends email attachments containing a hidden malware known as 'WannaCry' to users. ... read more

19.5.2017 - FINAL BRISBANE PROGRAM - CPD & CBC BORDER & BIOSECURITY COMPLIANCE PROGRAM ... read more

19.5.2017 - AUSTRALIA-HONG KONG FREE TRADE AGREEMENT LAUNCHED - PUBLIC SUBMISSIONS OPEN

On 16 May, Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister, the Hon Steven Ciobo MP, launched free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (http://trademinister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2017/sc_mr_170516.aspx).  Hong Kong is a significant trading partner, and an FTA would complement Australia's existing agreements with mainland China, Korea and Japan.  Hong Kong is already Australia's eighth largest export market, with Australia's total goods and services exports valued at $11.3 billion last financial year.  An FTA would bring our economies even closer and take the bilateral relationship to the next level. ... login required

19.5.2017 - WEBINAR - PORT SERVICES CHARGES - SHOULD FREIGHT FORWARDERS CHARGE GST

Importers and customs brokers currently face delays in lodging import declarations as a result of inconsistent Goods & Services Tax (GST) treatment of port services charges (PSCs) by freight forwarders. With the support of the GST experts at Crowe Horwath, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) has drafted an industry bulletin to establish a practical and consistent industry practice to facilitate early statutory reporting which in turn will avoid unnecessary storage costs and delivery delays of import consignments. ... read more

18.5.2017 - SCHEDULED ICS OUTAGE

A reminder that the ICS will be unavailable for a 7 hour period from 22:00 AEST Saturday 20 May until 05:00 AEST Sunday 21 May 2017. The outage is necessary to perform system maintenance.  ... login required

18.5.2017 - ANJ CONTAINER SERVICES IS HOSTING PORT BOTANY AUSTRALIAS BIGGEST MORNING TEA

Dear All,

ANJ Container Services along with our Major Sponsor J & J Robertson and Sons Transport are hosting Port Botany Australia's Biggest Morning Tea – Lunch at our Container Freight and Logistics Depot between 11:30am – 2:30pm Friday 26th of May  ... read more

16.5.2017 - 1-STOP MODAL IS THE ANSWER CONTAINER DEPOTS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR

1-Stop Connections (1-Stop) has embarked on thought-changing technology that will revolutionise the coordination of container movements in the supply chain. 1-Stop is proud to announce its newest product: 1-Stop Modal (Modal). Modal is a complete, tailor-made electronic gate and inventory management solution.  It will harmonise the way container parks/yards, depots, intermodals, shipping lines, terminals, carriers and rail operators operate. ... read more

Agriculture

22.5.2017 - DAWR - WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY (SPS) NOTIFICATIONS

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has circulated Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) notifications for information or comment. ... login required

19.5.2017 - RAW PRAWN UPDATE #25

Please see the latest information regarding activities being undertaken as part of the imported prawn suspension: 

·         The department has made two announcement this week, firstly a review of the biosecurity risk of, and the import conditions for, prawns and prawn products from all countries; and secondly the exemption of marinated prawns from the suspension.

·         It is important to note that the review of import conditions, which will take up to two years to complete, is separate from the current process managing the existing suspension, which aims to re-stablish safe trade in uncooked prawns by adopting interim risk management measures. ... login required

19.5.2017 - DAWR - IMPORTED FOOD SECTION UPDATE - IMPORTED FOOD NOTICE 08-17

IFN 08-17 – Mandatory allergen labelling
Issued: 18 May 2017
The purpose of this notice is to alert importers of their responsibility to ensure imported food is safe and allergens are correctly declared and labelled. This notice provides further information and guidance on complying with the mandatory allergen labelling requirements in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. ... login required

19.5.2017 - DAWR - 2017-05 - ALL COUNTRIES: REMOVAL OF WHITE SPOT DISEASE DECLARATION FOR PRAWNS. ... login required

19.5.2017 - DAWR - WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY (SPS) NOTIFICATIONS

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has circulated Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) notifications for information or comment. ... login required

18.5.2017 - ASG PLANT EXPORT SERVICE STANDARD UPDATE

The Assessment Service Group has been maintaining its air freight service standard of one business day. Difficulty remains in maintaining the three business day service standard for sea-freight shipments. At 12 pm today, 18/05/17, we are approximately half a day outside the 3 business day sea freight service standard. ... login required

18.5.2017 - DAWR - WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY (SPS) NOTIFICATIONS

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has circulated Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) notifications for information or comment. ... login required

18.5.2017 - DAWR - WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY (SPS) NOTIFICATIONS

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has circulated Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) notifications for information or comment. ... login required

18.5.2017 - REVIEW OF THE $2900 APPROVED ARRANGEMENT LEVY

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) continues to be inundated with concerns from members affected by the $2900 Approved Arrangement levy.
 
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources calculated the 2016 / 2017 financial year levy for Approved Arrangements based on the cost of providing the framework ($7.2m) divided by the number of estimated participants (2499). The result being that all businesses holding a unique ABN that operate an Approved Arrangement has been forced to pay the annual levy of $2,900 - in other words, regardless of how many Approved Arrangements a business may hold, they only pay one levy. ... read more

18.5.2017 - 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. ... login required

16.5.2017 - DAWR - 51-2017 – CARGO ONLINE LODGEMENT SYSTEM, POST ENTRY BIOSECURITY SYSTEM AND ONLINE PAYMENT SERVICE UNAVAILABLE 11:00PM FRIDAY 19TH MAY TO 12:00AM SATURDAY 20TH MAY 2017 (AEST)

Who does this notice affect?

All importers and customs brokers who will be required to lodge imported cargo documentation to the department for biosecurity assessment during this planned outage. All importers of plants, cats and/or dogs who will be required to use the Post Entry Biosecurity System during this planned outage period. All clients who will be required to make an online payment during this planned outage period. ... login required

16.5.2017 - RAW PRAWN UPDATE #24

Review of the biosecurity risk of and the import conditions for prawns and prawn products: The department has today announced a review of the biosecurity risk of, and the import conditions for, prawns and prawn products from all countries. ... login required

16.5.2017 - DAWR - IMPORT INDUSTRY ADVICE NOTICE 53/2017 - REVIEW OF PRAWNS AND PRAWN PRODUCTS AND UPDATE ON TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF UNCOOKED PRAWN AND UNCOOKED PRAWN PRODUCTS

Who does this notice affect?

This notice is of interest to importers of (certain/specific) uncooked prawns and uncooked prawn meat products and associated industry participants and retailers. ... login required

16.5.2017 - WEBSITE RESOLVED

15th May 2017
Who does this Notice affect?
Users of the Biosecurity Import Conditions Database (BICON) website. ... login required

16.5.2017 - DAWR - AUSTRALIA LEADS INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO PROTECT VITAL DOMESTIC INDUSTRIES FROM DEADLY PLANT PEST

Experts from across the globe will come together on 17–19 May to share knowledge and strengthen Australia's defences against one of the world's most devastating plant pests, Xylella fastidiosa. ... read more

16.5.2017 - DAWR - REVIEW OF IMPORT CONDITIONS FOR PRAWNS AND PRAWN PRODUCTS

The Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is undertaking a review of the import conditions for prawns and prawn products for human consumption. The review will consider the biosecurity risks for these imports from all countries and recommend appropriate import conditions to manage these. ... read more

Border

17.5.2017 - DIBP - PLANNED SYSTEM MAINTENANCE - SATURDAY 20 MAY 2017 – PLANNED SYSTEMS OUTAGE

From 3 pm to 4.30 pm Canberra time, several websites and systems will be unavailable. ... read more

17.5.2017 - ICS EFT REPORTS - RESTORED
Please be advised that the previously advertised issues with ICS EFT Reports for 16 May 2017 have been rectified and reports for this date are now available. ... read more

17.5.2017 - TC GAZETTE 2017/22 

The Commonwealth of Australia Tariff Concessions Gazette (the Gazette) gives legal effect to the creation of a number of legislative instruments such as By-Laws, Tariff Concession Orders (TCO's), TCO Revocations and Determinations. It also provides an avenue to identify, advise and provide information on a number of tariff concession issues.. ... login required

16.5.2017 - DUTY RATE ERRORS
WiseTech has found additional duty rate errors in the reference files provided to industry software providers. The errors all relate to missing duty free rates for certain FTA originating goods in the following tariff classifications. ... login required

16.5.2017 - EFT REPORT DELAYED - TUESDAY 16 MAY 2017

The EFT Report for today (Tuesday 16 May 2017) is currently not available. ... login required

Industry

ANTI-DUMPING NOTICES 2017 

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

Air

16.5.2017 - IATA - GLOBAL AIR FREIGHT DEMAND INCREASES 14% IN MARCH

Press Release No.: 22

Date: 3 May 2017

Geneva - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released March 2017 demand growth results for global air freight markets showing a 14% expansion measured in freight tonne kilometers (FTKs) compared to the same period last year. This was the fastest pace of growth recorded since October 2010. Freight capacity, measured in available freight tonne kilometers (AFTKs), grew by 4.2% year-on-year in March 2017. ... read more

16.5.2017 - FIATA - PR 1711-2017 FIATA'S HEADQUARTERS' NEWS, 63 COUNTRIES AND 100 NEW MEMBERS

Not only did the FIATA 2017 Headquarter's Session in Zurich have a new touch and atmosphere, it also held a record on the global spread with 242 participating members coming from 63 different countries! And this also marked a record in terms of new members joining FIATA, nearly 100 joined! ... read more

UPCOMING EVENTS