15/08/2023
Who does this notice affect?
Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries – including stevedores, sea cargo / container approved arrangement operators (1.1, 1.3 and 2.6), freight forwarders, port authorities, biosecurity industry participants, customer brokers and transport operators.
Purpose
This Import Industry Advice Notice (IIAN) is to engage and seek nominations from relevant industry representatives and members to join an advisory working group focussed on the co-design and implementation of a new policy for managing contamination and hitchhiker pests on the imported sea container pathway.
Key points
The risk of hitchhiker pests spreading globally is increasing due to climate change, intensification of agriculture, increased movement of people and products, and supply chain complexities. Hitchhiker pests are being detected in increasing numbers on or within sea containers and imported goods.
The department’s Hitchhiker Pest Program (HPP) was established to work towards a stronger biosecurity system to protect Australia from hitchhiker pests in containers and goods. The Program aims to transform the approach to management of hitchhiker pests by:
- Establishing more accurate risk profiling and targeting imported sea containers for regulatory action, with a focus on industry conducting biosecurity activities, for example inspections, cleaning.
- Partnering with industry to manage imported sea container pathways involving the use of industry systems, processes, and people.
- Partnering with trading partners to monitor hitchhiker movements and enhance sea container hygiene standards.
The department is committed to actively collaborating with the industry to foster a deeper understanding of current practices to design solutions to address new and emerging biosecurity risks. The department is seeking to form an advisory working group with industry representatives and members to consult on the design and implementation of the policy for the imported sea container pathway.
This notice is a call for nominations from industry representatives and members in particular– stevedores, sea cargo/container approved arrangement operators (class 1.1, 1.3 and 2.6), shipping lines, port authorities, brokers, transport operators – to nominate and be involved in this working group.
Working group tasks may include:
- Regular meetings with working group envisaged every two months.
- Targeted meetings with a sub-set of the working group for addressing specific topics.
- Review and contribute inputs on policy and process documents.
- Opportunity to participate in a pilot for a new approved arrangement for inspection and cleaning of containers.
- Testing of new information and communication technology (ICT) systems being developed for use by industry operators to support the new policy to manage hitchhiker pest risks.
To nominate to be part of this working group, provide the following information via email to iscpworkinggroup@aff.gov.au:
- Names and contact details of individual(s)
- Industry sector(s) and organisation(s) represented
- Length and type experience.
Nominations close on 31 August 2023. The department will review all nominations and advise applicants and industry of the outcome. We anticipate that this process may take four weeks to complete.
Further information
For further information regarding the Imported Sea Container Pathway Working Group, contact the department via email: iscpworkinggroup@aff.gov.au