20 January 2025
Who does this notice affect?
Stakeholders associated with the biosecurity clearance of sea freight containers imported into Australia that are destined for unpack in a rural location. This includes customs brokers, importers, and Biosecurity Industry Participants (BIPs) that hold approval for Approved Arrangement (AA) Class 14.4 - Rural tailgate inspection.
What has changed?
The department has changed its IT systems to automate the direction by Class 19 accredited persons support the automation of the expanded scope of eligible sea containers, permitted to be inspected by BIPs, under AA Class 14.4 - Rural tailgate inspection.
Class 19 accredited persons may now self-direct eligible sea containers for a rural tailgate inspection at an AA class 14.4 site, using one of two existing AA class 19.1 concern types:
- RUAA (internal and external rural tailgate inspection), or
- REAA (external only rural tailgate inspection).
This update removes the need for the interim lodgement process as published in February 2024: Industry Advice Notice 24-2024.
Expanded in scope containers under Class 14.4 class conditions, authorise BIPs to inspect:
- Impediment free containers, or
- Containers where the commodity is assessed and released on documentation by the department or by accredited persons (where currently permitted), or
- Containers with commodities requiring mandatory treatment prior to a rural tailgate inspection being performed.
OUT of scope for class 14.4 includes:
- Prefabricated office, accommodation units (built as or shipped in a sea cargo container). These goods will continue to be managed under the BICON Prefabricated office, accommodation units and caravans case. Where destined for a rural delivery, a departmental rural tailgate inspection will be required.
- Containers with commodities that require an inspection prior to being released from biosecurity control.
The updated Approved Arrangement Class 14.4 conditions will be updated and published shortly to reflect these changes to the scope of permitted goods for inspection by an approved Biosecurity Industry Participant.
Class 14.4 Industry support material
The department has published a Class 14.4: Rural tailgate inspection informative text and Class 14.4: Rural tailgate inspection awareness video to provide detailed information to assist class 14.4 BIPs to comply with the conditions of their arrangement.
The support materials include information on industry direction types, identification and management of biosecurity risks with the container, release of containers from biosecurity control and reporting of inspection outcomes to the department. These materials can be found on the departments Arrival of goods in Australia webpage.
Class 14.4 authorises the BIPs operating either a class 1.1 or class 1.3 (with approved class 4.3 wash bay facilities) sea and air freight depot, where directed, to perform a rural tailgate inspection on certain containers that are destined for unpack in rural classified location.
Further information
- Class 14.4 approved arrangement conditions can be found at: agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/arrival/arrangements/requirements.
- General information on RTG inspections can be found at: agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/arrival
- If further information is required about class 14.4 contact: seacargopolicy@aff.gov.au