The Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has issued Import Industry notice 119-2024 titled: ‘June Update: Self-Assessed Clearances (SAC) cost recovery charge,’ dated 11 June 2024. It is for the attention of all customs brokers, freight forwarders and importers of goods AUD $1,000 or less in value.
This follows on from the notice 58-2024 we posted about on 02 April 2024 and the subsequent update 78-2024 issued by DAFF 0n 30 April 2024, notifying stakeholders of the intended commencement of a new biosecurity cost recovery measure for the Self-Assessed Clearance (SAC) pathway as from 01 July 2024.
Following ongoing consultations with industry, DAFF has set a new commencement date of 01 October 2024 for the SAC cost recovery measure. This will allow industry and DAFF to work through detailed implementation planning regarding how it will affect business and consider actions that need to be taken to ensure all parties are ready for the impending charge on SACs.
The legislative charge, originally proposed at 40 cents per SAC, was later revised to 36 cents per declaration. It will be imposed as a government cost recovery tax – DAFF emphasises that it is not a fee for service. The entity lodging the SAC declaration into the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) will be liable for the charge.
Unlike the biosecurity Full Import Declaration charges, this charge is not being collected by the Australian Border Force (ABF). The responsible party will be required to remit total SAC charge amounts, quarterly in arrears, to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
DAFF will continue to provide updates leading up to the commencement of the charge on 01 October 2024 to ensure that industry has the information required to put the appropriate measures and systems in place.
Future updates on the SAC Cost Recovery Charge will be shared on the DAFF website and via import industry advice notices.
Colless Young is here to assist you in improving the flow-time of import document processing and minimising your costs. As licensed Customs Brokers and International Freight Forwarders, we take care of your cargo economically and professionally. Based in Brisbane, Colless Young provides a complete range of logistics services, including clearance through customs and biosecurity (quarantine), by sea and air, at all major Australian ports and airports.
