Document assessment processing turnaround times and availability of processing outside business hours

Member feedback in recent days has indicated a spike in the turnaround time for import shipments subject to Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department)  document assessment processing. 

Freight and Trade Alliance (FTA) have concurrently been advised by the department of 

"an increase in turnaround times for document assessments which may cause some delays, particularly for non-urgent freight." together with "a downturn in industry requests for overtime"  and to remind members that if they "have consignments with tight clearance timeframes to request overtime to ensure their documents are assessed in time to prevent any possible delays."  
 
Refer to Industry Advice Notice 73-2023 for additional information on overtime document assessment 

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