News

The rules around labelling of imported food have changed to make it easier for consumers to see where their food comes from. Imported food is classified as food not grown, produced, made or packed in Australia. This change means many foods sold in Australian supermarkets and retail outlets must carry a new label that clearly […]

While Australia already has an FTA with China, a comprehensive agreement with the Special Administrative Region (SAR) of Hong Kong would offer Australian service providers the ability to set up in the more highly-regulated and protected business environment there, while trading freely with China. Barring a number of goods – such as alcoholic spirits – […]

Back on 12th November 2016, we reported on the government’s intention to remove the ‘De Minimis Level’ for GST on imports. Now the legislation has been introduced into Parliament and is due to take effect from 1st July 2017. Basically, it will give effect to the 2016-17 Budget decision to apply GST to ‘low value’ […]

Customs have now issued advice about what discrepancies can be accepted on a Certificate Of Origin (COO) for the purpose of claiming preferential duty rates under the China Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA). Their position is now that preference CANNOT be claimed and duty has to be paid if the HS Code on the ChAFTA […]

From 1 July 2017, the law will require overseas vendors, electronic distribution platforms and goods forwarders to account for GST on sales of low value goods to consumers in Australia if they have GST turnover of $75,000 or more. The intention is that low value goods imported by consumers in Australia will face equivalent GST […]

Last week the Office of Transport Security (OTS) presented the Exposure Draft of the Aviation Transport Security Amendment (Cargo) Regulation 2016 and highlighted several important items of impending change to air cargo security programs, particularly in regard to the new ‘Known Consignor’ (KC) scheme and piece-level screening for US bound air cargo. The Regulations, once […]

The expansion mainly consists of two new locks, each with three slots.  The newly expanded locks are meant to double the canal’s capacity.  They were initially scheduled to open in 2014, on the canal’s 100th anniversary.  The Panama Canal operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 35 to 40 ships are expected […]

Importers of timber and wood-based products need to be aware of two notices issued by DOA. The first is 1/2016 – “Extension of the illegal logging ‘soft-start’ compliance period;” The second is 2/2016 – “Re-endorsement of PEFC Russian National Forest Certification Scheme.” Notice 1/2016 (In brief) Importers of timber and wood-based products into Australia and […]

Commercial arrangements covering the sale and importation of goods are many and varied, with a lot of importers these days buying under ‘delivery duty paid’ (DDP) terms. The contract of sale will generally set out the responsibilities of each party to the commercial transaction, and usually identifies the person who is responsible for paying duties […]

From 1 July 2016 a packed container should not be loaded onto a ship unless the master or his representative and the terminal representative have obtained, in advance of vessel loading, the verified gross mass (VGM) of the container.  WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING THE VGM? The shipper is responsible for obtaining and documenting the […]