Cargo and Shipping News and Activities

Cargo & Shipping Activities

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) manages quarantine controls to minimise the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering the country. Australia is free from a number of biological threats, such as foot and mouth disease, that have had major economic and environmental consequences for other countries. DAFF imposes fees and charges on import and shipping industries to cover the costs of maintaining national quarantine operations.

The bi-annual activity tables illustrate long-term volumes and trends impacting on cargo and shipping quarantine operations around Australia.

• Cargo and Shipping trends - as of July 2012

2008–12 imported cargo processing A DAFF time release study

This study examines the time efficiency of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s (DAFF’s) intervention on imported cargo.

Specifically, it investigates the referral-to-release and arrival-to-release times for imported items that are subject to the Quarantine Act 1908.

• 2008–12 imported cargo processing A DAFF time release study  PDF [2 MB]
• 2008–12 imported cargo processing A DAFF time release study  Word [2 MB]

Operational Science Program (OSP) Bulletin

OSP is a program area within DAFF and has Entomologists and Plant Pathologists around Australia to identify pests and diseases detected by inspectors. It also provides training and other practical advice to inspectors about detecting pests and diseases in consignments. OSP produces a monthly bulletin, providing details on some of the operational advice and highlights.

• OSP Bulletin - June 2012
• OSP Bulletin - May 2012
• OSP Bulletin - April 2012
• OSP Bulletin - March 2012
• OSP Bulletin - February 2012
• OSP Bulletin - December 2011-January 2012
• OSP Bulletin - November 2011
• OSP Bulletin - October 2011
• OSP Bulletin - September 2011
• OSP Bulletin - August 2011
• OSP Bulletin - July 2011
• OSP Bulletin - June 2011
• OSP Bulletin - May 2011

Requests for Biosecurity Regulation Data

Each year the department receives numerous requests from companies and individuals for data on biosecurity regulation, such as treatment statistics and details on commodity volumes and ports of arrival.

The department does not release unpublished data on biosecurity regulation outside of the Freedom of Information Process.

Freedom of Information

FOI 2011/12-43

The department received a Freedom of Information Act 1982 request (FOI 2011/12-43) seeking access to documents about the seizure of imported goods (notice V11008917). The following documents were released on 2 March 2012. The applicant has been advised that some of the documentation sought has been released with exemptions.

1. Email - RE: V11008917  PDF [69 KB], released with exemption s47F(1)
2. AIMS Direction Entry - Quarantine Direction, Irradiation IR - 50 KGray  PDF [69 KB], released in full
3. AIMS Direction Entry - Quarantine Direction, Hold, Officer Hold, contact QTNE  PDF [81 KB], released in full
4. AIMS Direction Entry - Direction Status Report, Documentation, Present all documentation  PDF [80 KB], released in full
5. AIMS Direction Entry - Direction Status Report, Inspection, Personal effects Inspect  PDF [89 KB], released in full
6. AIMS Direction Entry - Direction Status Report, Administration, Acquit holds in ICS  PDF [77 KB], released in full
7. AIMS Direction Entry - Released from Quarantine  PDF [64 KB], released in full
8. AIMS Direction Entry - Final Record of Service  PDF [40 KB], released in full
9. AIMS Direction Entry - Direction Status Report, Documentation, AQIS Processing Required  PDF [76 KB], released in full
10. AIMS Direction Entry - Quarantine Direction, Field Copy - AQIS Use Only  PDF [73 KB], released in full
11. AIMS Direction Entry - Quarantine Direction, Field Copy - AQIS Use Only  PDF [82 KB], released in full
12. AIMS Direction Entry - Direction Status Report, Administration, Outstanding Entries Information  PDF [88 KB], released in full
13. AIMS Direction Entry - Interim Record of Service  PDF [40 KB], released in full

DAFF Notice to Industry 11/2008-09

The department received an FOI application seeking access to documents that provide an insight into the drafting of DAFF Notice to Industry 11/2008-09 - "Transhipment of Ship Stores Containing Food Items that would not normally be permitted entry into Australia".

The following documents related to FOI 2011/12-12 were released to the applicant on 24 November 2011.

1. Email - Brief - Ship stores transhipments PDF [148 KB], released in part under s22(1)(a)(ii)
2. Letter and submission - Quarantine and Biosecurity Review Submission PDF [151 KB], released in full
3. Letter - Transhipment containers for cruise vessels that may contain prohibited imports PDF [93 KB], released in part under s22(1)(a)(ii)
4. Minute - Import permit proposal for "prohibited goods" for transhipment as ships stores for the purpose of provising international cruise vessels PDF [141 KB], released in part under s22(1)(a)(i) and s47F
5. Email - Transhipped ships stores PDF [174 KB], released in part under s22(1)(a)(i) and s47F
6. Conditions list - Draft: Ship stores containing goods subject to Import Permit - for transhipment PDF [285 KB], released in full
7. Minute - MN: R102 08 /03118 - Transhipment of ships stores for the purpose of provisioning international cruise vessels PDF [61 KB], released in part under s22(1)(a)(i) and s47F
8. Notice - Notice to industry 21/2007-08 PDF [140 KB], released in full
9. Notice - Notice to industry 11/2008-09 PDF [90 KB], released in full