Automatic Entry Processing (AEP) is a function in the Agriculture Import Management System (AIMS). It allows accredited persons under the class 19 approved arrangements to identify and manage biosecurity risk. Under the class 19 approved arrangements, accredited persons can assess documentation and report information through the import declaration in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) or third party software.
The use of AEP provides class 19 accredited persons with the following benefits:
- The ability to generate AIMS directions at the time of lodgement and outside of regular office hours; and
- Reduced costs associated with the assessment of import documentation.
The class 19 approved arrangements are:
- Class 19.1 non-commodity for containerised cargo clearance (NCCC)
Allows an accredited person to assess documentation associated with containerised sea freight against the non-commodity import conditions. - Class 19.2 automatic entry processing for commodities (AEPCOMM)
Allows an accredited person to assess commodity import documentation associated with specific commodities in scope of the approved arrangement.
Class 19.1 NCCC policy:
Other policies relating to class 19.1 NCCC:
- Minimum documentary and import declaration requirements policy
- Non-commodity information requirements policy
Useful links:
Class 19.2 AEPCOMM approved arrangement policy:
Class 19.2 AEPCOMM approved commodities:
Other policies relating to class 19.2 AEPCOMM:
Useful links:
- Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON)
- Offshore Treatment Providers
- Entity Identifier (AEI)
- Approved arrangement search tool
- Khapra beetle reporting and onshore assessment requirements infographics
BICON:
If you are an accredited person under class 19.2 AEPCOMM, you must use your BICON AEPCOMM user access. This enables you to determine the appropriate biosecurity outcome and AEPCOMM code to enter in the system for a particular import pathway.
For help obtaining BICON AEPCOMM user access, refer to the Account registration and maintenance section under the BICON system Help tab.
To apply for a class 19 approved arrangement, refer to Applying for an approved arrangement.
For details on class 19 training and accreditation, refer to Training and accreditation for approved arrangements.
For education and training material, refer to the Learnhub education and training platform (Learnhub). Learnhub is accessible to all accredited persons who operate under class 19 approved arrangements.
The process for assessing and monitoring compliance in an approved arrangement, and handling of cases of noncompliance, is outlined in the Approved arrangements general policies.
For details on how to comply with class 19 conditions and to understand the associated compliance classifications and enforcement actions for non-compliance, refer to Compliance classifications for class 19 approved arrangements.
Notice board
New fees and charges for all biosecurity and imported food regulatory activities commence from 1 July 2023. For further information on these changes please refer to the 2023-24 Biosecurity Cost Recovery Implementation Statement.
Participants who operate a single approved arrangement under the Automatic Entry Processing (AEP) scheme will be subject to the following fees and charges:
- an approved arrangement application charge of $194
- an application assessment fee of $37 (per 15 minutes or part thereof)
- an annual registration charge of $536
- a $20 approved arrangement fee for each entry that processes directly via AEP.
Please refer to the department’s charging guidelines for more information.
The CBC webinar activity for this period will be pre-recorded and made available on the Learnhub platform from Wednesday, 6 September 2023.
Further details are outlined in industry advice notice 122-2023: Key dates and information for the 2023-24 Continued Biosecurity Competency period.
The department has extended use of the Learnhub education and training platform (Learnhub) to accredited persons who operate under the class 19 approved arrangements.
Learnhub provides a central location for Continued Biosecurity Competency (CBC) sessions, training and other resources including historical activities and webinars.
Further details are outlined in industry advice notice 33-2023: Implementation of the Learnhub Education and Training Platform for class 19 accredited persons.
From 30 January 2023, the approved arrangement entry fee no longer applies to entries referred for AEP verification. These entries will only be subject to the standard document assessment fee (per 15 mins).
Further details are outlined in industry advice notice 19-2023: Reduced fees for entries subject to AEP verification.
The department is implementing urgent actions to protect against khapra beetle on a range of plant products that are hosts of this pest, and as a hitchhiking pest in and on sea containers. These actions are being implemented in phases.
For further information and implementation dates refer to ‘Urgent actions to protect against khapra beetle’.
Class 19.1 NCCC impacts
If you are operating under an approved arrangement, you must report and manage khapra beetle risk (for non-commodity) by:
- assessing documentation for target risk containers packed in a khapra beetle target risk country that will be unpacked in a rural khapra risk postcode in Australia
- ensuring target risk containers are accompanied by appropriate certification and the AEI is reported to address khapra beetle risk
- reporting if a container subject to khapra beetle measures does not meet requirements, through the khapra concern type (KPRA).
Class 19.2 AEPCOMM impacts
If you are operating under the AEPCOMM approved arrangement, you must report and manage khapra beetle risk (for commodity) by:
- Assessing commodity documentation for high risk plant products in scope of AEPCOMM (i.e. rice and milling products) according to the appropriate commodity BICON case and the BICON case Khapra beetle sea container measures.
The approved commodities and related information for class 19.2 AEPCOMM approved arrangement has been updated to incorporate the BICON case Khapra beetle sea container measures, where applicable.
For consignments that are considered target risk sea containers for khapra beetle and contain high risk plant products, the container khapra risk/container treatment certificate must be assessed before the commodity risk.
Refer to the infographic Khapra beetle sea container measures: onshore assessment, for further guidance on this assessment.
Contact us
For further information regarding AEP, please email the AEP support team.