Author: GPSM

Dear Clients,

Please note that the Chinese and Indonesian Governments have announced new regulations on all imports into those countries, regardless of the origin country.

For Indonesia, effective immediately, it will be mandatory to show Indonesian importers Tax ID Number (NPWP) and also the HS Code (Tariff Item) in the body of all bills of lading and airwaybills.

For China, effective from 1st June 2018, the  following is required:

• Consignee Enterprise Code – Uniform Social Credit Code (USCC) of the Consignee is similar to “Tax (payer) Identification Number” (TIN No.). Each USCC contains 18 digits or letters in total. In case of “to order B/L”, please advise tax ID number of first Notify Party. 

• Shipper Enterprise Code, the Australian Business Number (ABN) for Australia.

The above information is required to be submitted to airlines and shipping lines in Australia prior to cargo loading at origin point so it is important that this information is included in all future Shippers Letter of Instructions submitted to GPSM.

Please note that cargo will not be loaded on aircraft or vessels if this information is not received by carriers prior to loading, and GPSM will have no control over carriers actions and costs incurred should you not be able to provide this information prior to loading. Any such costs incurred will be to shipper’s account.

Naturally, our Export Customer Service Team will assist you in ensuring this information is received and processed accordingly, we would suggest that you contact your consignees in both countries to obtain the relative information as soon as possible so that we have same on file to ensure a smooth and trouble-free export operation.

 

DO YOU IMPORT FOOD, THEN READ THIS

Attention all food importers new laws come into force from 1st July 2018, products must be labelled in compliance with “ The Standard under the Australia Consumer Law (ACL). Businesses failing to comply with these new laws face penalties of up to $1.1 million for corporations and $220,000 for individuals.

Labelling requirements for a food item will vary depending on whether the food:

• Is a priority or Non-priority food.
• Was grown, produced, made or packed in Australia, or another country.

Non-priority items are:

• Seasonings
• Confectionary
• Biscuits and snack food
• Bottled water
• Soft drinks, and sports drinks
• Tea and Coffee
• Alcoholic beverages

All other foods, eg: meats, fruits, vegetables, bread, and dairy products, will be priority foods.

For full details on how these new regulations may impact on your business please read the attached Fact Sheet.

Country of Origin Labelling Fact Sheet

A reminder that the New Packing Declaration comes into force for containers arriving from 1st July 2018. Bamboo packaging is now acceptable provided it is treated by an approved method prior to export or on arrival and does not need to be declared as unacceptable packaging. Could you please have your suppliers commence using the new format immediately to prevent additional costs and delays on arrival.

DOWNLOAD FORMS:

Packing Declaration Annual Format

Packing Declaration FCL and LCL

The Department of Agriculture & Water Resources (DAWR ) has ceased heightened measures for the current Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) risk season for goods shipped from 1 May 2018. Goods shipped on or before 30 April 2018 and still en-route to Australia will still be subject to BMSB Mandatory measures where applicable.

DAWR has also said it will use the experience and data gained from this current season to prepare for the strategy to be implemented for the 2018 -2019 season. Information about the movement and establishment of BMSB from Europe and other areas will also be taken into consideration when looking at the 2018-19 season.

In addition to existing mandatory measures that have been implemented to manage this risk, DAWR is also developing a list of approved BMSB treatment providers offshore that will be authorised to conduct and certify treatments for certain categories of goods during the 2018-19 risk season.

Delays to Vessels To / From North China:

Please note that as a result of severe thick fog recently in North China, all vessels on the NE Asia service are currently being delayed into Australian ports. Shipping Lines are trying to adjust scheduling but in some North China ports, up to 1,000 vessels have been delayed and we are now seeing some load ports omitted from scheduling.

Customer Service team will continue updating you on arrival dates of all shipments as usual as latest information is received.

Airline Fuel Surcharge from Hong Kong:

Despite a fuel surcharge reduction in April, airlines operating to Australia have again reinstated the March fuel surcharge of HKD 2.10/kg to all cargo movements for May 2018, rates are being adjusted in our rate module to reflect the increase.

Airport Arrival Charges

Airport Cargo Terminal Operators (CTO’s) have announced an increase in import airport destination charges from April 8^th, 2018. The Airline Terminal Fee will increase to $ 0.51/kg and the Import Document Fee will increase to $ 53.00/shipment. GPSM will need to pass on these out of pocket expenses from above date, our web rates are being updated to reflect the new costs.

USA Trucking shortage

Following the mandatory introduction of Electronic Data Logging Devices (ELD’s) on all USA trucks, it is expected that trucking rates will increase and the number of available vehicles will be reduced. Already it is being reported that many more trucks are spending longer hours in rest stops since the ELD’s were introduced. It is now not possible for drivers to “fudge” their hours and rest stops must be taken after 11 hours. The following information was obtained from American Journal of Transportation:

“The ELD rules add another choke point for freight prices, a driver shortage, surging demand and rough weather already have pushed spot rates up 28 percent this year compared with a year earlier, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Even longer-term contract rates, which are more stable than short-term spot prices, are expected to rise 12 percent this year, that would be the highest increase in more than a decade. Contract prices rose just 3.9 percent last year.

The ELD rules divided big trucking companies and independent owner-operators. Most large trucking companies adopted ELDs years ago to ensure that they complied with limits on hours and to eliminate the hassle of driver paperwork, but smaller and independent drivers resisted the change. The American Trucking Associations supported the regulations, saying they made highways safer, while the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association rallied against the requirement as another regulatory burden”.

Please note any containers requiring wharf collection over the Easter period will incur additional costs. These will depend on vessel availability and your opening hours. While we will attempt to reduce any wharf storage it may be applicable. There may also be costs of container detention depending on the free days allowed and your ability to unload. Any detention costs will be passed on for your payment.

As always GPSM will take all steps to minimise extra costs. Full details of costs affecting your specific container/s will be sent you prior to Easter via transport note on your shipment.

We would like to wish everyone a safe and relaxing Easter break.

Please note that we have been advised that a winter snowstorm warning is in effect in the Northeast region of USA. By tomorrow the forecast is expected to have up to 12 to 18 inches of snow in the city and this storm is expected to continue throughout the day and into the early evening.

Truckers have advised that they have limited operation and some terminals have already closed.

Long Island Rail Road and the subway are operating on normal schedules at present.

Metro-North, New Jersey Transit and Amtrak are operating on limited schedules.

More than 2,350 area flights have been cancelled.

Several cities/terminals will feel the effects of this snowstorm

Due to the above, we are expecting delays in pick-ups, deliveries and transit times. We will continue to monitor and advise of any other updates that we receive.

Our customer service team will be in touch should your shipments be affected.

New Note Category Customs/ Quarantine Note

We have introduced a new note category to Communicater (CTR) called Customs/Quarantine Note. Customs note is now available from your shipment screen and can be accessed from the same area you currently go to for Shipment Note or Transport Note.

Our customs team will now commence using customs note for all matters that relate to Australian Customs & quarantine matters for clearance of your shipment. Please use the yellow post-it to reply to these notes so your message goes straight to our customs team. Just like with other note categories, you can also add a new customs note by clicking on this button from your shipment page.

So we now have 4 note categories:

1) PO Note, found in your purchase order screen, use this to tell us information about your order before it becomes a confirmed shipment.
2) Shipment Note, found on your shipment screen. Use this note to tell us any information once your order has become a confirmed shipment while in transit. Or for all shipping matters on your export shipment.
3) Transport Note, found on your shipment screen. Use this note to tell us any information about your delivery (if import) or pickup (if export)
4) Customs Note/Quarantine Note, found on your shipment screen. Use this note to tell us any information about customs & quarantine matters for your imports shipments.

You can use the post-it reply method when you reply to our message, which makes it automatically the same note category that we sent you. You can also start a fresh note in any category. All notes are logged in CTR for your future reference showing who sent and who received the note.

All notes are automatically distributed inside GPSM to the correct people.

New Document Required Box

If you look at the top right-hand side of your screen  you will now see a Documents Required Box, Inside this box you will find listed the key documents required for your shipment. As we receive the copies of documents from you and other sources we will add them to your Doc Pack, at that time they will be removed from this new Document Required Box. (This feature only relates to us receiving copy documents, if originals are required current systems still apply)

Regarding Original Bill of Lading, the same system as currently applies remains unchanged. That is noted on your shipment.

New FTA flag in your shipment

We have added a new checkbox to better manage when an FTA applies. This box appears above your BOL Status box. If your shipment has an origin country where there is an FTA in place with Australia, this box will be visible on your shipment. Initially, it will show “May be Required” what this is saying is that there is FTA in place with origin country, but as yet we have not assessed the commercial invoice to determine if the goods are dutiable. If the goods are duty-free in their own right, FTA is not required as no commercial advantage. We will select the updated option once we have assessed the commercial invoice and then you will see either:

Is required in order to obtain reduced duty

Is not required as good are duty-free in their own right

As always FTA is optional, if not supplied it may effect duty payable. If it’s supplied after delivery and duty were paid, a refund of duty may be possible, processing fees apply.

We hope you enjoy this new feature and as always let us know if you have any questions or comments.

The Department of Agriculture & Water Resources ( DAWR ) has found that offshore treatments for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) are failing to treat live insects, as a consequence of this and to manage the risk posed by this DAWR will no longer accept treatment certificates issued by any Italian Treatment provider from 9th March 2018.

Any Italian goods shipped on or before 30 April 2018 will be subject to mandatory inspection and fumigation at an approved onshore provider. Treatment certificates issued for approved BMSB treatments, other than Sulphuryl Fluoride from Italy will still be accepted.

Goods exempted from this treatment are listed below, all other goods are subject to inspection & fumigation.

Fresh Produce
Live Animals
Food for human consumption ( including beverages )
Seeds for sowing
Registered Pharmaceuticals