Release of draft 2023-24 biosecurity cost recovery implementation statement (CRIS)

Friday, June 16, 2023

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) wish to advise that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) has issued Industry Advice Notice 133-2023 advising of proposed changes to the biosecurity cost recovery implementation statement (CRIS).

What has changed?

The department has completed its comprehensive review of the biosecurity cost recovery arrangement.

The outcome proposes changes to existing regulatory charging to align fees and charges with the cost to deliver biosecurity and imported food activities.

The review process ensured the proposed price changes will recover only the minimum efficient costs of delivering our regulatory activities.

These changes are set out in the draft 2023-24 CRIS.

The purpose of this notice is to advise industry:

  • That the draft CRIS has been published on the department's website and includes proposed fees and charges for biosecurity and imported food regulatory activities, set to come into effect from 1 July 2023.
  • The proposed fees and charges become final when amendments to relevant charging legislation have been approved.

Proposed new fees and charges for biosecurity and imported food regulatory activity.

The department consulted widely with industry and the public between 27 March and 1 May on proposed changes to biosecurity and imported food regulatory charging.

Almost 50 submissions were received from stakeholders and presented to the
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, for consideration to inform a decision on the proposed fees and charges.

The feedback received from the 'Have Your Say' consultation can be reviewed on the department's website.

Approved fees and charges for biosecurity and imported food regulatory activity
 

Type of charge

Charge point

Unit

Current Price ($)

New
Price ($)

Charges

Full Import Declaration charge – air

Per import declaration

38

43

Full Import Declaration charge – sea

Per import declaration

58

63

Non-commercial Vessel arrival charge

Per vessel

120

155

Vessel, other than a non-commercial vessel arrival charge

Per vessel

1 054

1 354

Permit application charge

Per application

120

122

Approved arrangement application charge

Per application

180

194

Approved arrangement – AEPCOMM entry

Per item

18

20

Approved arrangement – single site

Per item

2 500

2 680

Approved arrangement – multi site

Per item

2 900

3 110

Approved arrangement – broker

Per item

500

536

Compliance agreement – imported foods

Per item

2 500

2 680

Reservation charge – horses     
(Includes both the importation charge and the husbandry fee for 14 days under the current arrangement)

Per animal

3 840
 

983

Confirmation of reservation – horses

Per animal

n/a

3 934

Reservation charge – ruminants

Per animal

3 000

1 005

Confirmation of reservation charge – ruminants                  

Per animal

n/a

4 019

Reservation charge – animal not covered by another item of this table (includes cat or dog)          

Per animal

1 200

253

Confirmation of reservation – animal not covered by another item of this table (includes cat or dog)

Per animal

n/a

1 012

Reservation charge – bees

Per bee consignment

2 500

837

Confirmation of reservation charge – bees

Per bee consignment

n/a

3 350

Confirmation of reservation charge – avian (fertile eggs)

Per hatching egg consignment

7 826

13 109

Confirmation of reservation charge – avian (fertile eggs)

Per hatching egg consignment

31 304

52 434

Confirmation of reservation charge – avian (live bird)

Per live bird consignment

2 810

4 707

Reservation charge – avian (live bird)

Per live bird consignment

11 240

18 827

Importation charge - plants

Per m2

110

291

Fee for service – assessment, approval, inspection, treatment, and audit

In-office fee during ordinary hours of duty, including virtual inspections

Per 15 minutes

30

37

Out-of-office fee during ordinary hours of duty

Per 15 minutes

50

62

Out-of-office fee during ordinary hours of duty

Daily

1 000

1 221

Out-of-hours fees – weekdays (permit assessment only)

Per 15 minutes

15

18

Out-of-hours fees – weekends (permit assessment only)

Per 15 minutes

20

23

In-office fee outside ordinary hours – weekdays
When activity is provided immediately before or after ordinary hours

Per 15 minutes

45

55

In-office fee outside ordinary hours – weekdays
When activity is not provided immediately before or after ordinary hours

Per 15 minutes

90

110

In-office fee outside ordinary hours - weekend

Per 30 minutes

100

120

Quarter hour rate charged for every 15 minutes or part thereof, after the first 30 minutes

Per 15 minutes

50

60

Out-of-office fee outside ordinary hours – weekdays
When activity is provided immediately before or after ordinary hours only

Per 30 minutes

65

80

Out-of-office fee outside ordinary hours – weekdays
When activity is not provided immediately before or after ordinary hours only

Per 30 minutes

65

160

Out- of- office fee outside ordinary hours - weekend

Per 30 minutes

140

170

Quarter hour rate charged for every 15 minutes or part thereof, after the first 30 minutes

Per 15 minutes

70

85

Assessment of a permit application not completed within the initial assessment period for the application                 

Per 15 minutes after the initial assessment period

30

37

Out-of-office permit assessment fee outside ordinary hours – weekday

Per 15 minutes

15

18

Out-of-office permit fee outside ordinary hours – weekend or departmental holiday                   

Per 15 minutes

20

23

Diagnostic testing

Per 15 minutes

30

37

Fee for service – temporary storage in relation to international travellers and their baggage

Temporary storage at premises owned or managed by the Commonwealth of baggage brought into Australian territory

Per 30 days per piece of baggage

30

45

Fee for service – special processing areas, agreed fee in relation to international travellers and their baggage

Any period up to 3 hours during which one or more fee bearing activities are carried out

First 3 hours for each person carrying out those activities.

At least 420 but not more than 840

At least 516 but not more than 1 032

Immediately following the first 3 hours during which those activities are carried out

Per 15 minutes immediately following first 3 hours for each person carrying out those activities.

At least 35 but not more than 70

At least 41 but not more than 86

Fee for service – husbandry

Husbandry fee – horses

Per animal per day

60

0

Husbandry fee – horses that overstay the initial 14-day period

Per animal per day over 14 days

0

44

Husbandry fee – ruminants

Per animal per day

60

101
 

Husbandry fee – animal not covered by another item of this table (includes cat or dog)

Per animal per day

29

50

Husbandry fee – avian (fertile eggs)

Per egg consignment per day

200

76

Husbandry fee – avian (consignment of birds)

Per live bird consignment per day

150

57

Husbandry fee – bees

Per bee consignment monthly

280

469

Husbandry fee – plants

Per m2 monthly

20

60

Fee for service—assessment of permit application

Assessment Category 1 Permit application

Each application

60

74
 

Assessment Category 2 Permit application

Each application

120

148
 

Assessment Category 3 Permit application

Each application

240

296

Assessment Category 4 Permit application

Each application

360

444
 

Assessment Category 5 Permit application

Each application

480

592


 
Draft 2023-24 biosecurity cost recovery implementation statement

The draft 2023-24 CRIS contains the Minister's approved fees and charges necessary to provide the level of regulatory activity that meets current volumes and risks. The CRIS also contains relevant information on the department's authority to cost recover, its estimated costs, forecast volumes and cost recovery revenue for biosecurity regulatory activity. Financial tables show past performance and forecast costs for future years. The CRIS will remain in draft until the Federal Executive Council has approved the legislative amendments which will give effect to the new fees and charges and amendments to definitions for certain regulatory activities.

The CRIS will remain in draft until the Federal Executive Council has approved the legislative amendments which will give effect to the new fees and charges and amendments to definitions for certain regulatory activities.

The draft 2023-24 CRIS can be accessed from the review of regulatory charging for biosecurity activities page on the department's website.

Next steps

Following approval of the legislative amendments, the final CRIS will be published on the department's website. Industry will be advised when the final CRIS is available and the department will confirm commencement of the new fees and charges.

New fees and charges for biosecurity and imported food regulatory activities are expected to commence on 1 July 2023.

Please contact the department at: BioCRIS@agriculture.gov.au if you have concerns or need support managing the transition to the new price.
 
Further information

Contact Biosecurity Cost Recovery at BioCRIS@aff.gov.agriculture.gov.au

 Sal Milici - Licensed Customs Broker
General Manager Trade Policy & Operations - FTA / APSA
Chair – Container Cleanliness Working Group | Global Shippers Forum (GSF)