14/06/2023
Who does this notice affect?
Importers and customs brokers of wooden furniture
What has changed?
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) is implementing community protection (CP) questions on targeted tariffs related to wooden furniture. This change is scheduled to take effect on 26 June 2023.
The following CP question will now be required to be answered in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) when lodging declarations under tariffs 9401.61 and 9403.60 (excluding 9403.60.00/25):
- BIOSECURITY: DO THE GOODS CONTAIN ANY WOOD (EXCLUDING RECONSTITUTED WOOD, DENSIFIED WOOD OR WOOD PLASTIC), AND ARE NOT ACCOMPANIED BY APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION TO VERIFY THAT THEY HAVE UNDERGONE AN ACCEPTABLE TREATMENT/MANUFACTURING PROCESS AS REQUIRED BY BICON?
There have been no changes to the import conditions for wooden furniture categorised by the above tariffs. This change has been made following review of the general high level of compliance with import conditions for these goods.
This change will reduce the level of referral of these goods to the department for assessment. A proportion of goods will be referred for validation. It is the responsibility of the importers and brokers to understand and comply with current import conditions. This change will enable the department to continue to monitor specific wooden furniture pathways, while enabling greater resources to be utilised for higher risk pathways.
What do I need to do?
Customs brokers lodging declarations in ICS on or after 26 June 2023 under tariffs 9401.61 and 9403.60 (excluding 9403.60.00/25) will need to answer the CP question as follows:
BIOSECURITY: DO THE GOODS CONTAIN ANY WOOD (EXCLUDING RECONSTITUTED WOOD, DENSIFIED WOOD OR WOOD PLASTIC), AND ARE NOT ACCOMPANIED BY APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION TO VERIFY THAT THEY HAVE UNDERGONE AN ACCEPTABLE TREATMENT/MANUFACTURING PROCESS AS REQUIRED BY BICON?
Customs brokers must:
- answer ‘Y’ to this question if the goods contain wood (excluding reconstituted wood, densified wood or wood plastic) and are not accompanied by documentation certifying appropriate pre-export treatment or manufacturing as per import conditions in BICON
- answer ‘N’ to this question if goods contain wood (excluding reconstituted wood, densified wood or wood plastic) and are accompanied by appropriate documentation of pre-export treatment or manufacturing
- answer ‘N’ to this question if the goods are listed in the Table of Wooden Products accessible via BICON
- answer ‘N’ to this question if the goods are a form of furniture containing no wooden material.
Goods accompanied by treatment and/or manufacturing certification is integral to the biosecurity clearance of manufactured wooden products. The department encourages customs brokers to obtain appropriate documentation prior to lodging the declaration.
Further information
The department's Import home page provides general information about Biosecurity and Imported goods requirements.
BICON is the department’s import conditions database and will provide you with the relevant pre and post border requirements for wooden furniture categorised by the above tariff codes. Import conditions for wooden furniture can be found in the Timber and timber products BICON case.
If you have questions or need further information relating to the importation of wooden products:
- Email at imports@aff.gov.au
- Phone (from within Australia): 1800 900 090
- Phone (from outside Australia): + 61 3 8318 6700.