If your sea container is being delivered to a rural area, it must undergo a Rural Tailgate Inspection (RTG) at the port of arrival.
Check if you need an inspection
All sea containers that will be unpacked in rural areas must undergo a RTG at the port of discharge. The requirement for an inspection is based on delivery postcode classifications.
Check if your destination postcode is classified as rural.
Where inspections can happen
An RTG can be carried out by a biosecurity officer at:
- Class 1.1 approved arrangement sites
- Class 1.3 approved arrangement sites with approved class 4.3 wash bay facilities
- certain wharf locations.
A biosecurity industry participant (BIP) can carry out an RTG at Class 14.4 AA sites.
What the inspection involves
During an RTG, a biosecurity officer or BIP will:
- check the outside of the container, including underneath
- open the doors and inspect:
- doors and seals
- walls and floor.
They’re looking for biosecurity risk such as:
- animals or insects
- plant or animal material
- soil or other contaminants.
For some shipments, only an external inspection is required. These include:
- dangerous goods
- frozen goods (kept hard frozen)
- returning Australian meat products
- diplomatic shipments
- ISO tank containers.
Departmental inspection requirements
During a departmental rural tailgate (RTG) inspection, the initial inspection must be conducted on:
- an approved sea container inspection stand (see sea freight container inspection stands), or
- a registered truck and skeletal trailer that allows clear visibility underneath, or
- a registered truck and flatbed trailer fitted with height-extended twist locks to allow for clear visibility underneath.
If contamination is found
You must:
- clean the container as directed
- have the container re-inspected.
Re-inspections must be done on an approved inspection stand.
Biosecurity industry participant rural tailgate inspection
An AA class 14.4 allows biosecurity industry participants to carry out RTG inspections.
The arrangement:
- is integrated with BICON and AA class 19
- authorises the BIPs to inspect eligible containers on our behalf.
To be approved, a BIP must: operate an approved sea or air freight depot AA class 1.1 or an AA class 1.3 that has an approved wash bay (AA class 4.3).
Eligible containers
Class 14.4 applies to:
- impediment free containers, or
- containers where the commodity has been assessed and released on documentation by the department or by accredited persons (where currently permitted), or
- containers with commodities requiring mandatory treatment prior to the being performed.
Ineligible containers
Class 14.4 does not apply to:
- prefabricated office or accommodation units built as or shipped in a sea container. These are managed under separate rules in BICON (Prefabricated office, accommodation units and caravans). If going to a rural area, they must still be inspected by a biosecurity officer.
- containers with goods that must be inspected before they can be released from biosecurity control.
Lodge a request for RTG using an AA class 19
Accredited persons operating under an AA class 19 can self-direct eligible containers to a class 14.4 AA site.
Use one of the following concern types:
- RUAA – for internal and external RTG inspection
- REAA – for external only RTG inspection.
Find out more on requirements and conditions for approved arrangement class 19.1
Industry support material
Find out more on how to comply with class 14.4 requirements and conditions.
Support materials include:
- information on industry direction types
- identification and management of biosecurity risks with the container
- release of containers from biosecurity control
- reports of inspection outcomes
See more on these support materials.
Class 14.4: Rural tailgate inspection video
This video will help class 14.4 BIPs comply with the conditions of their arrangement.
Download
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact us for help.
External inspection direction for dangerous goods
If a container is known or suspected to be carrying dangerous goods and/or hazardous goods:
- do not perform an internal container inspection
- contact us to request an external only inspection.
Record this clearly in the Rural tailgate container inspection record to avoid delays and support clearance in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS).
Dangerous goods are items that could pose a work health and safety risk. This includes:
- explosives
- gases
- flammable liquids
- flammable solids
- oxidising substances
- toxic and infections substances
- radioactive material
- corrosives
- other hazardous material.
Importers of dangerous goods remain responsible for:
- providing evidence that acceptable packing and dunnage was used in the consignment
- notifying us if there is any contamination, non-compliant packaging or signs of pests when the container is unpacked.
Pests and contamination
Where biosecurity risk material is found and is
- not authorised to managed by BIPs or
- found within the container
Report this immediately to us, as required by the approved arrangement class 14.4 conditions.
Lodge inspection results
You can submit RTG inspection outcomes using one of these three options:
- Biosecurity Portal
- Rural tailgate container inspection record
- a third-party application.
Only use one method per inspection.
Submitting the same information more than once (for example, through both the portal and a PDF) will delay finalising records processing ICS updates.
Record of release
The release from biosecurity and documentation requirements for class 14.4 on inspected sea containers are different to those for a departmental performed inspection.
For class 14.4 inspections:
- A BIP can release the container from biosecurity control if it is free from biosecurity risk material, and
- The BIP has created a record of release from biosecurity control that meets the conditions of the approved arrangement.
A record of release from biosecurity control:
- is the legal document for release under the Biosecurity Act 2015 and
- replaces a notice of release (final and release directive notice).
Once the container is released, it can leave the biosecurity area and your approved arrangement site. This can happen even if the ICS shows a ‘conditional clear’ status.
We recommend you give the record of release to the importer or broker, although it is not required. Sharing this information is managed through your commercial arrangements.
You must submit your container inspection record. When all container inspection records for that direction are submitted:
- we will finalise the entry
- the ICS will update to a ‘clear’ status.
This approach lets you manage releases efficiently while meeting your legal obligations.
Audits
The legislative ‘release point’ is the creation of a record of release from biosecurity control.
Auditors may ask BIPs for this document when assessing compliance activities. Departmental auditors are aware of the class requirements. They will not request a department-issued notice of release (final and release directive notice) for containers released under AA class 14.4.
Keeping clear and accurate records will help you demonstrate compliance.
See more
- Quick reference guides for help to use the Biosecurity Portal.
- Approved Arrangement Class 14.4 conditions.
Contact us
- For help with class 14.4 directions, contact the Tailgate team.
- For policy enquiries, contact Sea Cargo Policy