Highly compliant importer scheme and the inclusion of green coffee beans onto AEPCOMM

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (DAFF) has advised of changes to the class 19.2 Automatic Entry Processing for Commodities (AEPCOMM) approved arrangement scheme, and the introduction of the Highly Compliant Importer (HCI) scheme. Please refer to Industry Advice Notice 230-2022 which sets out the changes that come into effect 21 November 2022.

What is changing

Effective Monday 21^st November 2022, green coffee beans imported under tariff 0901.1 will be in scope for the class 19.2 AEPCOMM approved arrangement as well as the Highly Compliant Importer scheme.

As a result of these changes, green coffee beans will be removed from the Compliance-Based Intervention Scheme (CBIS). Importers previously eligible under CBIS will have their compliance history recognised under the Highly Compliant Importer (HCI) scheme.
 

Introduction of the Highly Compliant Importer (HCI) scheme

The Highly Compliant Importer Q-ruler functionality works similar to the CBIS process. However, HCI functionality will monitor compliance by 'instance' (i.e. at entry level or commodity group level) rather than assigning a different outcome per commodity line. The HCI scheme will group lines on an entry together that are from the same compliance group and have the same importer onto the 1 direction.

Another added benefit to the new HCI functionality in AIMS is that it has the flexibility to work in conjunction with AEP or it can work on its own. Where commodities are eligible for both AEPCOMM and HCI, it will be able to provide importers with end-to-end efficiencies with reduced document assessment and inspection intervention.
 
There is no application process to qualify for the scheme. The AIMS Q-ruler will automatically monitor an importer's compliance history count and automatically place eligible importers onto the scheme once they have reached a set number of consecutive compliant instances.

To benefit from the scheme, importers need to ensure that imported goods consistently meet import conditions and pass inspections.

More commodities will be added to the HCI scheme at a later date.
 

Training and resources

The following resources are available to assist accredited persons when performing assessments:

• BICON case: Coffee for processing or human consumption*
• Phytosanitary certification requirements (ISPM 12)
• Approved commodities and related information for the AEPCOMM AA webpage*
• Highly Compliant Importer (HCI) scheme webpage
• Help card: coffee for processing or human consumption (see attached)