The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) has been working closely with the MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) Cargo Directorate through a trans-Tasman Operational Working Group to build greater alignment and knowledge sharing between the two agencies.

Both parties have agreed to further this through investigating the possibility of a mutual recognition agreement. Mutual recognition is the system by which one government agency accepts that the systems and process operated by a second government agency achieves an equivalent outcome.

AQIS Manager, Sea Cargo Unit of Imports Clearance, Patricia Thornhill, has been liaising with MAFBNZ Cargo Directorate to agree the basis and terms for the operation of the trials. This has included a full documentation assessment of import conditions/standards and processes as well as site reviews both here and in New Zealand to get a broad picture of how and if these proposals might work.

Two initiatives have been proposed for trialling. The first is MAFBNZ inspection of used passenger vehicles in Japan for export to Australia. The proposal is to investigate having MAFBNZ inspectors perform the same offshore inspection they currently operate for NZ bound vehicles for those heading to Australia. At present vehicles bound for Australia are all inspected on arrival. AQIS aims to recognise New Zealand's Import Health Standard processes for used vehicles.

Patricia visited MAFBNZ in Auckland in September to review the used vehicle inspections regime at the Auckland wharf looking at both pre-cleared vehicles and the full inspection process.

The second initiative is AQIS inspection and assurance of nominated risk goods for export to New Zealand. This trial will look at international companies which have commercial stores in both Australia and New Zealand that hold goods in large distribution warehouses located in Australia. Any goods that are imported into Australia are subject to the AQIS import requirements and undergo an AQIS clearance process. These same goods are repackaged and forwarded on to commercial stores in New Zealand, where on arrival they are subject to MAFBNZ import requirements and are required to undergo the MAFBNZ clearance process. MAFBNZ seeks to recognise the AQIS import clearance procedures and assurances that the third party can demonstrate supply chain risk management and that the distribution centres have adequate measures in place to prevent cross contamination and re-infestation.

On Saturday 18 October, the first pre-inspected shipment arrived and representatives of MAFBNZ and a car carrier representative from Japan were present to witness the AQIS verification inspections. 'All inspections went well with the overall cleanliness of the vehicles being very good,' Patricia said.

Photo: MAFBNZ inspections being conducted on vehicles in Auckland, from left: Russell Killgour MAF, Ron Mathews MAF, Patricia Thornhill AQIS, Debbie Beer MAF and Clive Imrie MAF