26 July 2016
Departmental stamps for import related clearance activities will cease to be used as of 1 August 2016.
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources will no longer use departmental stamps to authorise or issue directions in relation to arriving conveyances and goods that are subject to biosecurity control.
In the past, the department has used a stamp to authorise or issue directions in relation to arriving conveyance and goods are subject to biosecurity control.
The application of a stamp is no longer a legislative requirement and does not empower or provide authority for a biosecurity officer’s decisions and/or the directions that they issue.
The same outcome can be achieved by biosecurity officers authorising all departmental forms and/or directions through their signature, printed name and date.
Accordingly over the coming weeks, the department will transition away from using departmental stamps to the authorising biosecurity officer’s signature, name and date.
Import related clearance activities will not be using departmental stamps from 1 August 2016.
The department will continue to use old forms pending the introduction of the new Maritime Arrivals Reporting System (MARS) later in the year. The area for the application of a departmental stamp on these old forms will not be used. This area will be removed from all forms and directions after the introduction of MARS.
Contact: Biosecurity Implementation Branch
Telephone: 1800 040 629
Email: New Biosecurity Legislation