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Department of Agriculture

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  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Import
  4. Arrival of goods in Australia
  5. Approved arrangements
  6. Variations to class 19 approved arrangements

Sidebar first - Import

  • Approved arrangements
    • Automatic Entry Processing (AEP)
    • Applying for an approved arrangement
    • Third party assessors
    • Changes and variation to an approved arrangement
    • Suspending or revoking an approved arrangement
    • Variations, changes, suspensions and revocations to class 19 approved arrangements
    • Fit and proper person test
    • Annual charge - Approved arrangements
    • Approved arrangements general policies
    • Approved arrangements glossary
    • Imported biologicals
      • Responsibilities of AA site where imported biologicals are used in vivo
      • Where to get a QAP/in-vivo application form
    • Conditions for operating approved arrangements
      • Compliance classifications for approved arrangements class 19
      • Approved arrangement class 19.2 commodities
      • Broad spectrum disinfectants and sanitisers for use in approved arrangements
    • Approved arrangement search tool
    • Training and accreditation for approved arrangements

Variations, changes, suspensions and revocations to class 19 approved arrangements

September 2021

If you participate in the following approved arrangements: class 19.1 Non-commodity for containerised cargo clearance (NCCC) or class 19.2 Automatic entry processing for commodities (AEPCOMM) you must notify the department if you are planning to vary, change, suspend or revoke your class 19 approved arrangement.

Varying class 19 approved arrangements

An application to vary a class 19 approved arrangement is required when you want to:

  • add or remove class 19.2 on an existing class 19 approved arrangement
  • change the approved arrangement manager.

The approved arrangement manager must complete the application to vary a class 19 approved arrangement form. Completed forms must be submitted to AEP.Arrangements@aff.gov.au.

[expand all]

Consideration period

The department must make a decision to either approve or refuse your application to vary within 90 days of receipt of your complete application. Please note, where your application is incomplete, the 90 day consideration period does not commence and we will return your application for completing.

If the department does not make a decision within this time your application will be refused. If you want to continue with your application after it has been refused due to the consideration period lapsing, you will need to lodge a new application.

The consideration period is a legislative requirement, the department is required to make a decision on your application within this timeframe. Requests to reduce or extend a consideration period from an applicant cannot be facilitated.

Note: Applications are generally processed within the consideration period.

Requests for further information

If the department requires further information from you to support your application, you will receive a formal notice requesting this information. The request will include the date by which the information must be provided to the department.

The date will generally be 14 calendar days from the date of the request. The 90 day consideration period will be extended by the amount of time it takes you to provide the requested information (up to the maximum time stated in the notice).

If you do not supply the information by the date on the request your application may be refused. If you want to continue with your application after it has been refused, you will need to lodge a new application.

Application assessment process

To obtain approval of an application to vary, you will need to:

  • complete an application to vary, which includes the fit and proper person test
  • satisfy the conditions as detailed in the approved arrangement general policies and applicable class conditions
  • meet any other requirements, conditions or directions as set by the department.

Applications are subject to approval by the Director of Biosecurity and will be assessed on their individual merits, with consideration being given to the:

  • capability of the applicant to carry out the arrangement
  • applicant having any necessary equipment and facilities to carry out the arrangement
  • applicant being a fit and proper person
  • level of biosecurity risk associated with the proposed arrangement
  • capability of the arrangement to be monitored for compliance with the Biosecurity Act 2015.

An entity debt check is conducted as part of the fit and proper person test. An application will not be approved if the entity has overdue debt with the department. Please ensure you check your entities debt status before completing your fit and proper persons questionnaire, you can contact Accounts Receivable for this information, please phone 1800 647 531 or email ARhelpdesk@aff.gov.au.

Once your application has been received

For a complete application the following process will apply:

  • an initial assessment of your application and accompanying documentation is conducted
  • where an application is complete the department will notify you that the consideration period has commenced
  • fit and proper person status is assessed
  • requests for information are issued (as required)
  • when the full assessment process is complete, a notice of approval or refusal of the application is issued
  • where an additional class has been requested once a variation is approved the additional classes are activated and the industry participant can start operating under the arrangement
  • where there has been a change to the approved arrangement manager once a variation is approved the person becomes responsible for the approved arrangement
  • fees are applied in accordance with the fees and charges available on the department's website. 

For an incomplete application the following process will apply:

  • an initial assessment of your application and accompanying documentation is conducted
  • where an application is found to be incomplete you will be contacted to provide details for the incomplete information
  • your application is then placed on hold pending receipt of the incomplete information
  • if the incorrect application has been used, you will be required to complete the correct one
  • upon receipt of the additional information required, your application will be re-assessed
  • if the application is found to be complete after re-assessment, the department will notify you that the consideration period has commenced the complete application process applies
    • where the additional information supplied is still incomplete, further details will be requested and the application put on hold until sufficient information has been provided.

Any time prior to your consideration periods end date, you may request to have your application withdrawn.

Withdrawn applications will not impact on future fit and proper person assessments for future applications. If an application is not withdrawn and it is refused by the delegate, future fit and proper person assessments will consider the refusal.

The approved arrangement manager or declarant listed on the application must make the withdrawal request in writing to AEP.Arrangements@aff.gov.au.

Approval period

Applications will be approved for ten years from the date of approval, unless specified otherwise by the delegate.

Fees

Variation applications will be charged fee-for-service rates for the time taken to assess the application. Information about current fees and charges is available on the department's website.

DocumentFile size
Application to vary a class 19 approved arrangement PDF 228 KB

If you have difficulty accessing these files, please visit web accessibility.

Change of details

Approved arrangements

You must submit the change of details for class 19 approved arrangement form to:

  • change contact details for the approved arrangement
  • update accredited persons associations

Accredited persons

To update contact information for accredited persons you must submit the Change of details for class 19 accredited persons form.

Completed forms must be submitted to AEP.Arrangements@aff.gov.au.

DocumentFile size
Change of details for class 19 approved arrangement PDF 343 KB
Change of details for class 19 accredited persons PDF325 KB

If you have difficulty accessing this file, please visit web accessibility.

Suspension

You can request a whole or part suspension of your class 19 approved arrangement or request to extend an approved suspension.

A whole suspension is applicable to both the class 19.1 NCCC and 19.2 AEPCOMM arrangements.

A part suspension is only applicable to the class 19.2 AEPCOMM arrangement.

An extension is a request to increase the period of the already approved suspension.

Whole or part suspension requests must be made in writing by the approved arrangement manager.

To suspend your class 19 approved arrangement, provide the following information to AEP.Arrangements@aff.gov.au:

  • Approved arrangements number
  • Legal entity name
  • Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • Branch ID
  • Suspension type: whole or part
  • Reason for the suspension
  • Biosecurity risk management during the period of suspension.
  • Date of effect of suspension (no less than 15 business days after date of request)
  • Proposed period of suspension

Please ensure you include as much information as possible to avoid the department having to request more information and delay the process. Please submit one request per site.

The approved arrangement manager must advise the department at least 15 business days prior to the proposed date of any changes to your approved arrangement.

The department can suspend a class 19 approved arrangement if the requirements and conditions are no longer met.

Lifting a suspension

To revoke the suspension before the end of the suspension period, contact AEP.Arrangements@aff.gov.au at least 15 business days prior to the proposed date the suspension is to be lifted.

Fees

Suspensions will be charged fee-for-service rates for the time taken to conduct the assessment. The average assessment time for suspensions is one hour although some requests may take longer. If the assessment time is expected to be longer than five hours, the department will contact you to see if you wish to proceed.

Information about current fees and charges is available on the department's website.

Revocation

To revoke your approved arrangement, an email with the following information must be submitted to AEP.Arrangements@aff.gov.au.

  • Approved arrangement number
  • Legal entity name
  • Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • Branch ID
  • Date of effect of revocation.

Your approved arrangement manager must advise the department at least 15 business days prior to the proposed date of any changes to your approved arrangement.

In certain circumstances the email may be provided by a person with the authority to make decisions on behalf of the entity.

Revocations will be charged fee-for-service rates for the time taken to conduct the revocation.

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

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Page last updated: 29 June 2024

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

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