New web-based format for 'Cargo Containers - Quarantine Aspects and Procedures'

Notice to Industry 14/2010

New web-based format for ‘Cargo Containers – Quarantine Aspects and Procedures’

Introduction

For over 40 years 'Cargo Containers: Quarantine Aspects and Procedures' (CC-QAP) has detailed 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.

What has changed?

As advised in previous Notices to Industry, AQIS has been reviewing the format of CC-QAP to make it easier to access relevant, up to date information on quarantine requirements.

AQIS has also 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 Documentary Requirements policies: the 'Minimum Documentary Requirements Policy' and the 'Non-commodity Information Requirements Policy'. These two documents became the standard reference points for the documentary requirements for imported cargo from 1 August 2009.

Further information on documentary requirements are detailed in the following:

• Various Import Industry Advice Notices (2009)
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

New format of the CC-QAP booklet

The review of the CC-QAP booklet is now complete, and it is now in the form of a web portal, with all the links to detailed information embedded in explanatory text.

The two policy documents mentioned above now contain much of the information previously contained in the CC-QAP booklet. The bulk of this information has now been removed from CC-QAP and replaced with links to the policy documents. The remaining text in CC-QAP has been condensed and furnished with links to other relevant primary sources of information on the AQIS website (e.g. Khapra beetle, giant African snail (GAS), timber and treatment information, Import Conditions Database (ICON) cases, and so on).

AQIS Import Industry Advice Notices and/or ICON Public Quarantine Alerts (PQAs) will announce any significant changes to linked information.

Links to the CC-QAP web page currently in ICON and in other areas of the AQIS website will remain active.

Treatments for timber components of containers and packaging and dunnage

Information formerly housed in Appendices I to VII of CC-QAP is now available on a new webpage (Approved Treatments for Timber) in the Timber section of the AQIS website.

The existing AQIS timber permanent preservation requirements (formerly Appendix I of CC-QAP) will be available as a new web page (Approved Permanent Preservative Treatments for Timber) in the Timber section of the AQIS website.  The new requirements for compliance to relevant parts of the Australian Standards® for timber preservation AS/NZS 1604 will also be included at this web address.

Non-permanent treatments for timber associated with containers (formerly Appendices II, III and V of CC-QAP) have been combined and condensed and are now part of the new web page Approved Non-permanent Treatments for Timber.

Links to these new timber treatment pages are included where appropriate in the CC-QAP webpage.

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.