24 December 2020
Who does this notice affect?
This notice is of interest to Approved Arrangements, terminal operators, importers and brokers for all imports.
Background
The department has been advised by Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Centre (JEVIC) that cleaning and pre-inspection services will be reduced at several facilities located in Japan. This reduction in offshore cleaning and pre-inspection will significantly increase the number of used vehicles requiring assessment, booking and inspection on arrival.
What has changed?
With fewer offshore cleaned and pre-inspected vehicles arriving in Australia from Japan, there will be delays in the booking and inspection process impacting all goods. This may manifest itself through delays in the assessment, booking process, inspections (both breakbulk and containerised) and reinspection if onshore treatment is required.
Further industry advice will be available in late-January 2021.
Current booking and inspection arrangements will remain in place for vehicles that are cleaned and pre-inspected offshore by JEVIC.
Further information
Used vehicles present a high-risk to Australia’s biosecurity. Used vehicles entering Australia have a 100% intervention rate. Reduced intervention (5%) is applied to vehicles that are cleaned and pre-inspected by recognised providers of offshore treatment.
For importers:
- Importers should be aware that there have been changes to the intervention levels published on the department’s website.
- Importers, in conjunction with their brokers, may wish to consider alternative discharge ports which are experiencing less congestion.
For brokers:
- Brokers should utilise AEPCOMM to undertake the assessment of used vehicles arriving in Australia where possible.
- Brokers will need to book appointments for all vehicles not cleaned offshore under the approved scheme as these will require 100% intervention.
For additional information, please contact Sea Cargo Policy at airandseacargo@awe.gov.auor phone 1800 900 090.
Current intervention rates for offshore used-vehicle cleaning providers can be found on the department website.