The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) reminds clients that it will no longer accept ‘Prohibited packaging material’ statements from 16 June 2017. The recently passed “Biosecurity Act 2015” has placed restriction on the use of the term ‘prohibited’ in relations to packing material. Therefore ‘PROHIBITED packaging material statement’ has been replaced by ‘UNACCEPTABLE packaging material statement’.
Consignment specific packing declarations containing the ‘Prohibited packaging material’ statement dated prior to 16 June 2017 will be acceptable for their intended consignment. Annual packing declarations containing the ‘Prohibited packaging material’ statement (regardless of their expiry date) will NOT be accepted for consignments shipped on or after 16 June 2017. As such packers/suppliers will be required to reissue their declarations to meet the requirements of the Non-commodity information requirements policy.
New packing declaration templates for all Seafreight shipments can be found at
http://agriculture.gov.au/import/arrival/clearance-inspection/documentary-requirements/templates
Have you advised your suppliers/packers of the changed packing declaration? If you are not up to date on this issue, please call us here at Colless Young for assistance.
