Who does this notice affect?
This notice is of interest to clients in the import and shipping industries, including importers and customs brokers associated with the importation of targeted break bulk and containerised vehicles, boats, machinery and machinery parts shipped from the United States from 1 September 2016 to 30 April 2017 inclusive.
What has changed?
New Community Protection (CP) questions (see table below) have been created to capture high risk goods (as per the target tariffs in the Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs (BMSB) season measures) and exempting low risk goods as best as possible. These CP questions will be active until 31 May 2017, as Full Import Declarations will likely be lodged up to this date for goods departing the US on 30 April 2017.
Industry notice 75-2016 advised that AQIS Commodity Codes would be created for this purpose. However the department decided on using CP questions instead, as this means of supplying information is more familiar to customs brokers who deal with the kinds of goods subject to the brown marmorated stink bug measures.
Answering these questions correctly will ensure that goods are not referred to the department unnecessarily for brown marmorated stink bugs. Please note that there are verification profiles in place for goods of BMSB concern.
| CP ID | Question Text |
|---|
| 555 | Biosecurity: are the goods being transported as either break bulk or full containerised (FCL/FCX)? |
| 556 | Biosecurity: are the goods being transported as break bulk? |
| 557 | Biosecurity: do the goods have an enclosed cabin and are they being transported full containerised (FCL/FCX)? |
| 558 | Biosecurity: are the goods jet skis, kayaks, personal sit/stand on watercraft, paddleboard, canoes, bare shells/hulls, buoys, floats, or deflated inflatable boats (other than pontoons)? |
Customs brokers will receive the following message advice when goods are referred to the department for assessment of brown marmorated stink bug risk: Biosecurity clearance required for goods with brown marmorated stink bug risk.
Further information
For further information on the 2016-17 measures, please see the Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs web page or contact Air and Sea Cargo.
Any changes to the 2016-17 measures will be published in industry advice notices and via social media. To receive advice of changes, go to Subscription centre to request an email when a new industry notice is issued, or go to the department's twitter account, @DeptAgNews?.
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