The risk management strategies for chemical and mined fertiliser are outlined below:
Level 1: Low risk consignment
The benefits for achieving the Level 1 standard are:
- minimal intervention by the department at the border
- on arrival, the cargo hold does not need to be inspected therefore the discharge of goods can commence at any time of the day or night.
To achieve Level 1, companies must implement the department recognised contamination management strategies across their supply chain, from the point of manufacture through to and including the vessel’s voyage.
Level 1 requirements are:
For a consignment to be classified as a Level 1, a number of contamination management strategies must be in place across the supply chain from the point of manufacture through to and including the container inspection, certification and loading.
The contamination management strategies set out in this policy for Level 1 risk classification are recognised by the department as best practice principles that provide high level confidence in the biosecurity integrity of the consignment. Details of the requirements for a Level 1 consignment are provided below.
Details of the requirements for a Level 1 consignment are:
- All requirements of a Level 2 consignment must be met;
- Each consignment must be accompanied by a Manufacturer’s Declaration;
- Each consignment must be accompanied by a Sampling Declaration, which can be issued as part of the manufacturers declaration
- the supply chain has been audited by an independent third-party auditor;
- container inspection reports must be completed and retained for auditing purposes.
Level 1 Gold Status can be provided to offshore entities with at least 10 continuously compliant Level 1 loads over 5 years.
Level 2: Medium risk consignment
The inspection process for Level 2:
- medium level of intervention at the border
- the fertiliser requires an on-ship inspection
- inspections must occur during daylight hours
- discharge cannot commence until holds have passed inspection.
To achieve Level 2:
- manufacturing facilities and load port have been audited by the department, or an independent third-party auditor; and
- manufacturer declaration provided for each consignment.
Level 3: High risk consignment
For a consignment to be classified as a Level 3, one or more of the components of the supply chain, including manufacturing and load port facilities, do not provide sufficient evidence of contamination control. Level 3, or high-risk goods are cleared on a consignment-by-consignment basis.
- Check the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) about the requirements for importing fertiliser into Australia.