"coronavirus" - Update 7 / Biosecurity paperwork

As advised in coronavirus update 5, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA)  has received commentary from members and the wider industry as regards paperwork issues (delays/corrections) in order to complete formal entry of cargo arriving from China, in particular paperwork required for assessment of Biosecurity issues.

These matters were raised with the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the department) by email and discussed in telephone conversations. FTA have now received a formal response from the department and an extract of that follows.

Thanks for your time to discuss potential delays with availability of documentation for goods imported from China while there are restrictions on movement of people and goods due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The department understands that there is a possibility that this will impact access to required amendments to documentation for goods that were shipped around the time of Lunar New Year.
 
As discussed, the issues and delays are only anticipated at this stage. And as such, the department will not be revising any of its documentary policies.
 
Your members should continue to assess documentation under the class 19 Approved Arrangements, answer community protection questions in ICS and lodge import declarations as per all normal procedures. Where this means the cargo will be held pending documentation, movement of goods to an appropriate class of Approved Arrangement site can be requested. Again, this is as per normal procedures.
 
We intend to closely monitor the impact of any delays and to touch base with departmental staff posted in China to determine the likely timeframes and areas subject to any restrictions. As discussed, please provide any written correspondence from your members where issues obtaining documents are directly attributed to the Coronavirus restrictions to us at entrymanagement@agriculture.gov.au This will help the department keep informed of the issue and make decisions should the need arise.

FTA suggest members monitor any issues that may arise where paperwork has been delayed or needs corrections that cannot be obtained under the current situation in China and direct these concerns to the above noted email address and cc FTA. Traffic on this email address will be monitored and FTA will maintain contact with the department to work towards an effective / efficient clearance through the border requirements.. 

FTA will continue to monitor issues surrounding the coronavirus and keep members updated as necessary.