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The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the department) has issued Industry Advice Notice 152-2021 dealing with documentary requirements for fumigation certificates for imported goods. https://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/industry-advice/2021/152-2021

 

What has changed?

 

As a result of the recently updated Minimum documentary and import declaration requirements policy version 4.0, documentary requirements for fumigation certificates are changing.

 

The current policy (version 3.0) differentiates statements required to be made on fumigation certificates with respect to impervious surfaces, wrappings and timber thickness depending on whether the treatment provider issuing the certificate is registered with the department.

 

Current Policy (version 3.0) Requirements

 

Treatment providers other than those undertaking a treatment under one of the department’s recognised schemes (AFAS, BMSB) or to address the risk of Khapra Beetle are required to make a statement related to plastic wrapping of the goods only.

 

The current policy enables one of the following statements to be made:

 

  • ‘plastic wrapping has not been used in this consignment’
  • ‘this consignment has been fumigated before application of plastic wrapping’
  • ‘plastic wrapping used in this consignment conforms to the AFAS wrapping and perforation standard as found in the AFAS Methyl Bromide Fumigation Standard’.

 

Revised Policy (version 4.0) Requirements

 

The revised policy which comes into effect 2 August 2021 enables a single statement to be used on all methyl bromide and sulfuryl fluoride certificates regardless of the treatment provider.

The revised requirement is:

 

  • A statement confirming that the target of the fumigation conforms to the plastic wrapping, impervious surface and timber thickness requirements at the time of fumigation, as per Appendix 3 of the Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology. (attached)

Or

A statement confirming that the target of the fumigation conforms to the plastic wrapping, impervious surface and timber thickness requirements at the time of fumigation, as per Appendix 2a of the Sulfuryl Fluoride Fumigation Methodology (attached)

 

Reason for the change

 

The primary reason for this change is that the current statements do not address timber thickness and impervious coating considerations that must be considered to ensure effective fumigations are conducted.

 

The new policy harmonises the requirement between providers and removes opportunity for conflicting statements to be made.

 

Actions required

 

  1. Goods that require fumigation prior to shipment and are exported to Australia on or after 2 August 2021, importers and their agents are encouraged to ensure that treatment providers are aware of the new requirement.
  2. Where the fumigation has been completed and the certificate has been issued within the specified timeframe and before 2 August 2021, the existing plastic wrapping declarations will be considered acceptable.
  3. All other goods fumigated and exported to Australia after 2 August 2021 that arrive with a fumigation certificate that does not bear the new statement will be subject to inspection or treatment on arrival if amended documentation cannot be obtained.

 

For further information regarding the revised Minimum documentary and import declarations requirements policy, please visit the department’s website.

 

Should you have any further queries on the above subject matter please contact our customs departments in Sydney or Melbourne for clarity.

 

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