Author: GPSM

Khapra Beetle – update

 

Urgent actions to protect against khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium)

Khapra beetle and its risk to Australia

Khapra beetle is Australia’s number two National Priority Plant Pest and the number one plant priority pest for grains. It is not present in Australia,but it is a highly invasive pest that poses a major threat to Australia’s grains industry. Khapra beetle destroys grain quality making it unfit for human or animal consumption.

The global spread of khapra beetle is increasing and it is being detected on a wide range of plant products and as a hitchhiker pest in shipping containers. If khapra beetle enters Australia it would have significant economic consequences. An outbreak could cost Australia $15.5 billion over 20 years through revenue losses arising from damaged grain in storage and exports.

Phase 1: Ban on High risk plant products within UPE’s and low Value Freight

Phase 1 of the urgent actions commenced on 3 September 2020. As of this date, high-risk plant products from all countries are not permitted entry into Australia within:

This ban does not apply to goods imported as commercial trade samples or for research purposes.

Goods arriving for commercial use or for research purposes within low value freight must be for commercial use by an Australian company or business or for research purposes only. They will be required to be:

  • accompanied by a Supplier’s declaration, Manufacturer’s declaration, Commercial invoice or Importer declaration with evidence that the goods have been imported by an Australian company or business or
  • a statement that the consignment is intended for research purposes.

Failure to comply with these requirements will result in export or destruction of the goods upon arrival in Australia. 

Phase 2: Ban on high risk plant products within accompanied baggage or via mail.

Phase 2 is expected to commence in mid-October 2020. In this phase, the ban on high-risk plant products will be extended to travellers with accompanied baggage and via a mail postal service.

This means that high-risk plant products from all countries will not be permitted entry into Australia within:

  • baggage carried by international travellers (accompanied baggage) or
  • mail items (including items posted using Express Mail Service).

HIGH RISK PLANT PRODUCTS

  • Rice (Oryza sativa)
  • Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum)
  • Cucurbit seed (Cucurbita, Cucumis, Citrullus spp.)
  • Cumin seed (Cuminum cyminum)
  • Safflower seed (Carthamus tinctorius)
  • Bean seed (Phaseolus spp.)
  • Soybean (Glycine max)
  • Mung beans, cowpeas (Vigna spp.)
  • Lentils (Lens culinaris)
  • Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
  • Coriander seed (Coriandrum sativum)
  • Celery seed (Apium graveolens)
  • Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea)
  • Dried chillies/capsicum (Capsicum spp.)
  • Faba bean (Vicia faba)
  • Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan)
  • Pea seed (Pisum sativum)
  • Fennel seed (Foeniculum spp).

The following exclusions apply: goods that are thermally processed that are commercially manufactured and packaged such as retorted, blanched, roasted, fried, boiled, puffed, malted or pasteurised goods, fresh vegetables and commercially manufactured frozen food and frozen plant products or oils derived from vegetables or seed.

Khapra beetle target risk countries

khapra-beetle-pest-bulletin

Khapta Beetle Revised Phytosanitary certification

Khapra Beetle Other risk plant products

BMSB 20-21 Season

4 Aug 20 – Kazakhstan added to the list of target risk countries.

In addition, the department continues to review the changing risk status of BMSB and will also be undertaking random onshore inspections on goods from other emerging risk countries to verify pest absence in goods.

The following countries have been identified as emerging risk countries for the 2020-21 BMSB risk season and may be selected for a random onshore inspection: Belarus, Denmark, Ireland, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom and Chile.

We are also monitoring other countries through a lower rate of random inspections. These include all remaining European countries, Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Argentina, South Africa and Uruguay.

2020-21 Seasonal measures for Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB)

In response to the rapid expansion of BMSB throughout Europe and North America, the department has retained the seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB from arriving in Australia for the 2020–21 BMSB risk season. The department has used a range of scientific, intelligence and evidence-based information when setting the measures, including data collected from the 2019-20 BMSB season onshore verification activities.

The department has also worked closely with the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on the 2020-21 measures to ensure both Australia and New Zealand’s BMSB seasonal measures are consistent across the two countries (where possible).

For the 2020-21 BMSB risk season, heightened biosecurity measures will apply to:

• Certain goods manufactured in, or shipped from target risk countries, and/or
• Vessels that berth at, load or trans-ship from target risk countries.

The measures apply to goods shipped from 1 September 2020 that arrive in Australian territory by 31 May 2021 (inclusive).

Goods shipped between 1 September 2020 and 30 April 2021 need to be treated and will be referred for intervention if they arrive by 31 May 2021 (inclusive).

Download attachments:

BMSB 20-21 Target high risk fact sheet
BMSB 20-21 -preparing-to-import-goods-factsheet
BMSB 20-21 Target high risk fact sheet

Temporary By-Law for Goods to be used in response to COVID-19 Pandemic

The Australian Border Force has issued a Customs notice regarding the temporary issue of a Schedule 4 By-law which will allow the import of goods used in response of the Covid 19 Pandemic. It has been back dated to commence from 1st February and ending on 31st July 2020. As such goods imported and cleared from 1st of February 2020 will be considered for refund of import duty , if any was paid.

  • Face masks
  • Gloves
  • Gowns / Cloths
  • Goggles, glasses, eye visors, face shields
  • Disinfectant preparations ( excluding hand sanitizer)
  • Soaps
  • Covid 19 test kits and reagents
  • Viral Transport Media

Please refer to the attached ACN. Notice  No: 2020/20.

Download Attachment

Asbestos Update

Australia is one of the few countries in the Asia/Pacific region that has a comprehensive BAN all six types of asbestos.

The Australian Border Force (ABF) expects importers to be able to demonstrate that they have undertaken adequate risk assessment measures for their goods.
The ABF requires;
1) a Declaration from the Importer stating that the imported goods contain NIL Asbestos
2) that the Importer is able to provide if requested one or more of the below evidence demonstrating that the goods contain no Asbestos

Below we have listed types of documentation that will assist you in mitigating your risk and compliance with the NIL asbestos policy from the ABF.

• Declarations which state that the goods have nil asbestos content (supported by evidence);
• Documentation outlining the level of assurances taken throughout the supply chain;
• Information about the supply chain and possible quality assurance processes in place;
• Illustrative Descriptive Material;
• Ingredient lists;
• Test certificate or laboratory report;
• Material Safety Data sheets.

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE REQUIREMENTS.

Attached please find a sample declaration to assist you.
Further information may be found on the ABF website via the link below:
https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/prohibited-goods/categories/asbestos

Download Attachment

Update on FTA negotiations

FTAs not yet in force

Below is the list of FTAs that have been concluded but have not yet entered into force.

Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement

Australia and Hong Kong signed the Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement (A-HKFTA) and the associated Investment Agreement on 26 March 2019. These agreements mark a significant milestone in our already substantial trade and investment relationship.

Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

Australia and Indonesia announced the substantive conclusion of negotiations on the Indonesia -Australia Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) on 31 August 2018.

This agreement will launch a new chapter in economic relations between Australia and Indonesia.

Peru-Australia Free Trade Agreement

The Peru-Australia Free Trade Agreement (PAFTA) was signed by Australia and Peru on 12 February 2018.

Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus

PACER Plus was signed in Nuku’alofa in Tonga on 14 June 2017 by Australia, New Zealand and eight Pacific Island countries — Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands,Tonga and Tuvalu.

FTAs under negotiation

Free trade agreements open up opportunities for Australian exporters and investors to expand their businesses into key overseas markets.

Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement

  • Australia and the European Union (EU) launched negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) on 18 June 2018. As a bloc, the EU is Australia’s second largest trading partner, third largest export destination, and second largest services export market. The EU was Australia’s largest source of foreign investment in 2018.

Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, commenced in July 2007. These negotiations were preceded by bilateral FTA negotiations with the UAE, which were abandoned following a decision by GCC Ministers to only negotiate FTAs as a group. To date, there have been four rounds of GCC-Australia FTA negotiations, with the last one held in June 2009.

Recent years have seen remarkable growth in the trading relationship between India and Australia, fuelled by the many complementarities between the two economies. Two-way trade in goods and services has grown in value from $13.6 billion in 2007 to $30.4 billion in 2018.

India is the world’s largest democracy and is a market of 1.3 billion people. Its youthful population, diversified economy and growth trajectory present significant opportunity for Australian business, including in education, agriculture, energy, resources, tourism, healthcare, financial services, infrastructure, science and innovation, and sport.

Australia and India launched negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement in May 2011. There have been nine rounds of negotiations, the most recent of which was held in September 2015.

The Australian Government is putting its weight behind enhancing economic ties with India. On 22 November 2018, the Government formally endorsed the independent India Economic Strategy and its ambitious vision for bilateral trade and investment by 2035.

Australia and the Pacific Alliance launched negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on 30 June. A regional trading bloc comprising Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, the Pacific Alliance’s GDP was worth over USD $1.8 trillion in 2015-16. Over the last decade, Pacific Alliance members had some of the fastest growing economies in the region. The four countries, taken together, account for 37 per cent of Latin America’s population, 35 per cent of its nominal GDP, 46 per cent of its exports, and 50 per cent of its total imports.

A Pacific Alliance FTA would enable Australian businesses to access the opportunities presented by that growing market.  It would also strengthen our economic relationship with Latin America and provide an opportunity for Australian businesses to diversify their export markets.

At the 3rd Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit in Bangkok on 4 November 2019, leaders from 16 Indo-Pacific countries — Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam — agreed on the importance of RCEP as a signal of the region’s collective commitment to open trade and investment.

Changes to biosecurity cost recovery

The government has decided to expand the types of biosecurity activities to be cost recovered under the Australian Government Cost Recovery Guidelines. This includes biosecurity assurance, analytics and risk mitigation activities.

These are critical to managing the risks posed by goods and vessels coming into the country.

The government’s decision includes increasing the following charges:

  • Full Import Declaration charge—air from $33 to $38.
  • Full Import Declaration charge—sea from $42 to $49.
  • Vessels greater than or equal to 25 metres—arrival charge from $920 to $1054.
  • the Australian Government has decided to expand the types of biosecurity activities that are cost recovered.
  • The department has published an update to the Biosecurity Cost Recovery Implementation Statement.
  • The new charges will start 1 January 2020. Your normal billing and invoicing arrangements will reflect this change.

Shipping Documents

With the commencement of the BMSB season on September 1st 2019 this is a reminder that you send us your shipping documents as soon as possible, particularly if your goods are subject to BMSB measures to ensure you allow us enough time to process them and avoid and additional charges or delay on delivering your shipment.

Based on last year’s BMSB season it’s going to be a challenging time for all importers and we take this opportunity to ask you to have your suppliers forward your documents promptly to our agent (where we are handling your forwarding) and also for shipments sent on a CIF basis.