22 June 2020

Who does this notice affect?

All clients required to use the department’s Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) system during this planned maintenance period.

Information

Due to scheduled infrastructure maintenance, BICON users may experience several intermittent outages from 16:00 to 23:59 on Sunday 28 June 2020 (AEST).

Action

Users are advised to frequently save any in-progress permit applications during this maintenance period.

26 June 2020

21 June 2020

Who does this notice affect?

All importers and customs brokers who will be required to lodge imported cargo documentation to the department for biosecurity assessment during this maintenance period.

Information

Due to planned system maintenance, the Cargo Online Lodgement System (COLS) will be unavailable from 17:30 to 19:30 Sunday 21 June 2020 (AEST).

Action

Clients are advised to await the completion of this maintenance period before attempting to access this service.

21 June 2020

Who does this notice affect?

All clients required to use the department’s Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) system during this planned maintenance period.

Information

Update: due to postponement of planned system maintenance, the services disruption to BICON has been extended until 01:00 Monday 22 June 2020 (AEST). Specific impacts are detailed below:

The BICON system will be unable to send system generated emails from 20:00 Friday 19 June to 01:00 Monday 22 June 2020 (AEST).

Date of issue: 19 June 2020

Date of effect: Immediate

Previous advice: MAA2020-07

Attention:

Date of issue: 19 June 2020

Date of effect: Immediate

Previous advice: MAA2020-17

Attention:

PHC is the peak government plant biosecurity policy and decision-making forum. Its role is to maintain or improve plant health in Australia in support of the economy, environment and community through strategic policy, technical and regulatory advice and national leadership on plant biosecurity matters. PHC has responsibility for delivering on national priority reform areas, including those identified for implementation of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB) and oversighting the implementation by governments of the National Plant Biosecurity Strategy (NPBS).

19 June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise industry that applications are now open for the accreditation of farms and packhouses, and the registration of treatment facilities, to export summerfruits to protocol markets for the 2020–21 season.

19 June 2020

Who does this notice affect?

The change affects passengers and crew travelling to Australia, senders and receivers of international mail and other persons who fail to comply with the legislation administered by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.

The change will be reflected in infringement notices issued by the department and penalties imposed by courts.

What has changed?

From 1 July 2020 higher financial penalties will be in place for breaches of most Commonwealth laws.

18 June 2020

Who does this notice affect?

This notice is of interest to importers of biological products and associated industry participants

What has changed?

The department has noticed some recurring issues in the importation of biological products. The following information will assist importers to address those issues and minimise delays in the border clearance process.

Biological products include: