29 April 2024
Who does this notice affect?
Importers and brokers of:
- Tea bags from all countries (0902)
- Raw nuts from all countries (0802.12.00.08, 0801.22.00.37, 0802.22.00.10, 0802.32.00.12, 0802.52.00.23, 0802.62.00.25, 0801.31.00.38, 0801.32.00.39)
- Powdered herbs and spices (0904.22.00.05, 0904.22.00.04, 0910.12.00.12, 0910.30.00.03, 0712.90.90.78
- Dried coconut products (excluding desiccated) from all countries (0801.12.00.40, 0801.19.00.42)
- Fresh and dried mushrooms and truffles from all countries (0709.59.00.90, 0709.52.00.20, 0709.53.00.30, 0709.54.00.40, 0709.55.00.50, 0709.56.00.60).
What has changed?
Upcoming enhancements
Trialling CBIS on a document controlled pathway (herbal tea bags)
The department will expand CBIS onto document controlled pathways, with a trial commencing on herbal tea bags. Further information about the trial will be provided by the department once a delivery date has been established.
Use of profile questions to improve CBIS uptake
The department will create new profile questions to improve uptake of existing CBIS commodities and support new CBIS pathways. This will also allow us to remove AQIS Commodity Codes (ACCs) where relevant.
This will minimise the number of goods being referred in for manual processing, and if compliant, reduce intervention by the department for compliant importers.
For imports of herbal tea bags, the following profile question will appear:
- Biosecurity: Are the goods derived from permitted plant ingredients (other than Camellia sinensis), commercially packaged in tea bag or capsule form, imported for Human Consumption end use?
- Tariff code in scope: 0902
Importer or Importing agents’ response:
Yes, the goods should be eligible for CBIS.
If no, the goods will be managed as per BICON.
For imports of raw nuts, including almonds, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, macadamias, pistachios and walnuts, the following profile question will appear:
- Biosecurity: Are the goods raw, shelled nuts imported for human consumption end use?
- Tariff code in scope: 0802.12.00.08, 0801.22.00.37, 0802.22.00.10, 0802.32.00.12, 0802.52.00.23, 0802.62.00.25
Importer or Importing agents’ response:
Yes, the goods should be eligible for CBIS.
If no, the goods will be managed as per BICON.
For imports of cashew nuts, the following profile question will appear:
- Biosecurity: Are the goods raw cashew nuts imported for human consumption end use?
- Tariff code in scope: 0801.31.00.38, 0801.32.00.39
- Importer or Importing agents’ response:
Yes, the goods should be eligible for CBIS.
If no, the goods will be managed as per BICON.
For imports of dried coconut (excluding desiccated coconut), the existing ACC ‘COCO’ will be removed, and a new profile question will appear to complement the existing profile question:
- Current question: Biosecurity: Are the goods whole, fresh, de-husked, mature coconuts, prayer nuts or immature coconuts, imported for human consumption end use?
If yes, the fresh coconuts should be eligible for CBIS.
If no, you will then be directed to answer a new question:
New question: Are The goods dried in chunks, chips, shredded, grated, flakes, sliced or diced coconut form and imported for human consumption end use?
If yes, the goods should be eligible for CBIS.
If no, the goods will be managed as per BICON. - In scope tariff codes for coconuts is: 0801.12.00.40, 0801.19.00.42
We will also be reviewing the ACC applied to some of the powdered herbs and spices that are currently on CBIS. More information will be available on the CBIS webpage.
Recognising and rewarding good compliance
We have reviewed several import pathways eligible for CBIS and through improved compliance, we will be revising the intervention rates on the following pathways:
| Commodity Name | Tariff code | Current rates | Revised rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Almonds (raw, shell removed) | 0802.12.00.08 | CN: 3 MF: 20 % | CN: 3 MF: 10 % |
| Brazil nuts (raw, shell removed) | 0801.22.00.37 | CN: 4 MF: 25 % | CN: 3 MF: 10 % |
| Cashews (raw) | 0801.31.00.38 0801.32.00.39 | CN: 5 MF: 40 % | CN: 3 MF: 10 % |
| Hazelnuts (raw, shell removed) | 0802.22.00.10 | CN: 4 MF: 20 % | CN: 3 MF: 10 % |
| Macadamias (raw, shell removed) | 0802.62.00.25 | CN: 3 MF: 15 % | CN: 3 MF: 10 % |
| Pistachios (raw, shell removed) | 0802.52.00.23 | CN: 3 MF: 40 % | CN: 3 MF: 10 % |
| Walnuts (raw, shell removed) | 0802.32.00.12 | CN: 3 MF: 15 % | CN: 3 MF: 10 % |
| Mushroom and Truffles (dried) | 0712.31.00.70 0712.32.00.71 0712.33.00.72 0712.34.00.73 0712.39.00.90 | CN: 3 MF: 33 % | CN: 3 MF: 10 % |
*CN=Census Number, MF=Monitoring Fraction (Risk-based Intervention rate).
The changes to intervention rates are being progressed separately with a view to implement all changes by 30 June 2024.
Note
Goods that qualify for CBIS may still need to meet other biosecurity or imported food requirements. Imported food must meet the food safety requirements specified under the Imported Food Control Act 1992.
What do I need to do?
Keep updated on the revised changes through BICON and the CBIS webpage. The changes will require importers or their agents to accurately answer one or more profile questions and provide an appropriate tariff code and goods description. To facilitate the clearance process, please lodge complete and accurate documents in COLS.
Further information
If you have any enquiries relating to these changes, then please contact the Program and email imports@aff.gov.au (Tier 2- CBIS) or telephone 1800 900 090.
The department also publishes changes on the CBIS webpages: