Quarantine Aspects and Procedures - Cargo Containers
'Cargo Containers: Quarantine Aspects and Procedures' details information on quarantine requirements for risk management of containers and the cargo and packaging materials they carry. Timber pests and diseases pose a significant quarantine risk to Australia, and accordingly all timber in containers, including exposed timber components, must be treated before the container can be considered for immediate release. There are also quarantine concerns with the external and internal cleanliness of containers.
Cargo Containers: Quarantine aspects and procedures 
PDF [334kb]
Cargo Containers: Quarantine aspects and procedures 
Word [585kb]
Review of the format of the Cargo Containers—Quarantine Aspects and Procedures booklet
For over 40 years the Cargo Containers—Quarantine Aspects and Procedures (CC-QAP) booklet has been a source of information on AQIS requirements for containerised cargo.
As advised in previous Notices to Industry, AQIS has reviewed the documentary requirements for the clearance of imported cargo. The review was conducted in consultation with industry and resulted in the development of two policy documents: the 'Minimum Documentary Requirements Policy' and the 'Non-commodity Information Requirements Policy'. These two documents will become the standard reference points for the documentary requirements for imported cargo from 1 August 2009.
What is the impact on the CC-QAP booklet?
1. Changes to Documentary Requirements currently referenced in CC-QAP booklet
The documentary requirements for containerised cargo will change when the new policies are implemented. Details of the changes are explained in the following:
- Import Industry Advice Notices (23, 30, 35, 37 and 38/2009)
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Please note that newly manufactured plywood/veneer declaration will now continue to be accepted for plywood/veneer packaging and dunnage.
2. Review of the format of the CC-QAP booklet
The two policy documents now contain much of the information currently contained in the CC-QAP booklet. This information will be removed from CC-QAP and replaced with links to the policy documents. The remaining text in CC-QAP will be replaced in stages by links to other relevant information on the AQIS website (e.g. Khapra beetle, giant African snail (GAS), timber and treatment information, ICON cases, and so on).
Eventually, the new CC-QAP will be in the form of a web page, with all the links to detailed information embedded in explanatory text. The content of the web page will also be available in PDF and Word format. Links to the CC-QAP webpage in ICON and in other areas of the AQIS website will remain active.
The first set of changes to replace outdated information will occur on 1 August 2009 when the new policies are implemented. The second set of changes will occur in stages soon after 1 August 2009.
AQIS Import Industry Advice Notices and/or ICON Public Quarantine Alerts (PQAs) will announce any significant changes.
3. Timber Permanent Preservatives
The existing AQIS timber preservation requirements (currently in Appendix I of CC-QAP) will remain available in both Word and PDF format at the same web address as CC-QAP. The new requirements for compliance to relevant parts of the Australian Standards® for timber preservation AS/NZS 1604 will also be included at the web address.
Further information
For further information please contact one of the following:
- For enquiries regarding the review of the CC-QAP or timber issues contact the Timber National Coordination Centre, +61 3 8318 6929, or email Timber Imports.
- For enquiries regarding the Minimum Documentary Requirements Policy or Entry Management issues contact the Entry Management Program.
- For enquiries regarding the Non-Commodity Information Requirements Policy or Co-regulation Import Schemes Implemented by AQIS email the Co-regulation Administration and Support Program.