Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) is pleased to confirm that the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) will be re-launching the Safeguarding Arrangements programme for the 2019-2020 Brown-marmorated stink bug (BMSB) risk season.
Safeguarding arrangements may be applied to import supply chains that can demonstrate appropriate biosecurity controls from the point of manufacturing to the point of embarkation (the point at which containers are loaded onto the ship at the port of export).
Approved supply chains may be eligible to bypass BMSB treatment requirements entirely, if they can demonstrate appropriate controls to identify and address pest risk at the country of origin.
The re-launch of the Safeguarding Arrangements programme was one of the key recommendations of FTA's submission to the Inspector-General of Biosecurity.
We would like to thank the department for their outstanding industry engagement in the development of the Safeguarding Arrangements Policy for the 2019-2020 season.
While the department is currently conducting a trial by invitation with a limited number of pharmaceutical, timber and motor vehicle supply chains, it is expected that applications for Safeguarding Arrangements will be formally open to all eligible import supply chains before the beginning of the next BMSB season.
At this stage, there will be a minimum trade volume requirement to be eligible for the scheme. However, the department are willing to allow some flexibility in this regard.
FTA / APSA continue to work closely with the department as they move towards finalising their Safeguarding Arrangements Policy. This includes determining:- reporting requirements under the scheme;
- audit regimes under the scheme;
- alignment to industry best practice programmes, including the CTU Code, ISPM 4 and ISPM 10;
- relevant training;
- compliance requirements;
- dedicated departmental staffing / support team.
FTA / APSA will provide formal guidance once finalised by the department. |
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