The Safeguarding Arrangements Scheme (the scheme) offers an alternative clearance pathway for goods imported as sea cargo in six hard sided shipping containers during the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) risk season, 1 September to 30 April.
The seasonal measures for BMSB mandate an approved treatment for certain goods manufactured or shipped from target risk countries to control the risk of BMSB arriving and establishing in Australia.
The scheme offers importers the opportunity to demonstrate actions and processes in their manufacturing supply chain* can effectively prevent their goods from being exposed and contaminated with BMSB and other exotic pests. Alternative biosecurity controls within the supply chain removes the requirement of a mandatory BMSB treatment ensuring the goods are BMSB free when exported to Australia.
The applicant, in consultation with the supplier, must consider their own unique manufacture, storage, and transport circumstances. These actions and processes must be outlined in a supply chain plan as part of the Safeguarding Arrangement Scheme application and be supported by direct evidence. The supply chain plan must be able to be independently audited onsite.
*A manufacturing supply chain includes all offshore sites from the initial point of manufacture to the point of export to Australia and is identified by a single Supplier ID.
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Do I meet the requirements for the Scheme?
Applicants must be able to demonstrate the following as part of their application. Please consider whether you and the supply chain can meet each of these requirements prior to applying for the scheme.
- Goods are imported into Australia by a single importing entity that has a valid Australian Company Number (ACN) and/or Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Goods are transported in a six hard sided shipping container with one or a combination of the following minimum import volumes per supply chain during the BMSB risk season:
- 50 x Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) containers
- 25 x Forty-Foot Equivalent Unit (FEU) containers.
- Goods only have indoor storage between manufacture and export to Australia.
- Processes and mitigation actions are in place throughout the supply chain to protect the goods from exposure to BMSB and other exotic pests and prevent possible infestation.
- Contingency actions in place should BMSB be detected at any point in the supply chain. Ie. What is the process for isolating and removing the potential pests and how will goods contamination be managed?
- Supply chain staff to complete hitchhiker awareness training and understand obligations under the safeguarding agreement. This can include using resources on the department’s website.
- Ability to conduct at least one compliance audit against the supply chain and provide results to the department for review as per specific audit requirements.
Increased infestation risk
If manufacturing and storage locations are adjacent to agricultural sites and forested areas this increases possible infestation risk of goods due to proximity to BMSB habitats. The longer goods are stored for also increase the risk of possible infestation; therefore, these factors will be considered when assessing an application
Possible mitigation processes and actions may include:
- Secure packaging immediately after manufacture
- Storing goods for less than 5 days
- Goods stored at constant temperatures below 5C after manufacture until arrival in Australia
- Detailed inspection procedures during storage and when loading to ensure goods are free of BMSB and other pests
- Pest treatments – including insecticidal fogging and residual insecticide treatments
- Pest inspections by accredited providers
Photos/images may be used to support the application.
New applications for the scheme are not available to:
- Onshore supply chains or sites located in Australia.
- Goods transported as breakbulk (BB) including flat rack and open top containers.
- Goods transported in Less than Container Load (LCL) and Freight of All Kinds (FAK) containers.
- Goods that have ‘many-to-many’ supply chains, such as those encompassing goods obtained from multiple suppliers to multiple importers.
Approved Importer’s responsibilities
Importers must:
- Ensure all processes and actions outlined in the Safeguarding agreement are followed to ensure goods are exported to Australia BMSB free.
- Ensure all shipping containers are clean and BMSB free prior to loading goods.
- Manage the unpack of goods imported into Australia in a metro area.
- Contact the Safeguarding team immediately if possible pest detections are made at any point in the supply chain.
If you SEE any biosecurity concerns, SECURE the goods and immediately and REPORT to Biosecurity Reports on 1800 798 636. SEE. SECURE. REPORT - Conduct at least one audit against the approved supply chain plan, and provide details of the audit to the department for review.
How to apply
Please submit the following information to safeguarding@awe.gov.au.
- Completed application form including supply chain mitigation and contingency actions and processes.
- Australian Border Force (ABF) import data report to demonstrate minimum import requirements. Please contact the ABF via email at gstreport@abf.gov.au to obtain a copy of the report.
- A minimum of six images showing the inside and outside of all manufacturing and indoor storage sites listed in the application
Supply chain compliance audit
Approved participants of the scheme are required to conduct at least one compliance audit against the approved supply chain plan prior to the end of the season and provide to the department for review. Reports must demonstrate the supply chain is compliant with the approved supply chain plan.
Audits must be conducted by persons who have successfully completed specified training and are accredited to perform compliance audits.
Audit reports must be on company letterhead and include;
- details of who (including accreditation) undertook the audit,
- the date and time the audit was initiated and completed.
- Details of compliance with each action outlined in the supply chain plan.
Images/photos can also be supplied to support the information included in the audit report(s).
Failure to provide audit report to the department will result in suspension of that entity from the scheme until an audit report is provided and that it shows the entity meets their agreement(s) under the scheme. Audit reports containing non-compliance against the approved supply chain plan may result in increased levels of intervention or suspension from the scheme.
The department will not approve an application for a Safeguarding Arrangement where the prospective applicant has indicated that they will be unable to conduct and/or provide the results of their supply chain plan compliance audit to the department.
Downloads
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Further information
For further information regarding the Safeguarding Arrangements Scheme, please contact the Safeguarding Arrangements team via email at safeguarding@awe.gov.au
For BMSB seasonal measures, visit the Seasonal Measures for BMSB webpage or for policy questions, email the Seasonal Pest Policy team: SPP@awe.gov.au