News

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 Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) has developed proposed measures to manage the 2016-17 seasonal risk of brown marmorated stink bug infestations in sea cargo shipped from the United States. This year’s measures are largely the same as last year, with season dates, treatments, and requirements for management of target goods unchanged. This […]

ABF 2020 outlines the challenges in the external environment and provides a clear roadmap for how the Department will achieve their mission and vision. It complements and sits under their Strategy 2020 and the Corporate Plan 2015-19, and is aligned with the Department’s broader reform program. Over the four years from 2015 to 2019 the […]

Aside from Australia and the USA, the ambitious Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) includes 10 other Pacific Rim nations: Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam Brunei and Japan. These signatories have a collective population of about 800 million – almost double that of the European Union’s single market, and the 12-nation would-be bloc is […]

ABF officers have seized digital and physical evidence as they investigate suspected illegal imports of Chinese building products containing asbestos.   The warrants involved one W.A. company in particular which has supplied products to 69 sites across Australia, including Perth’s new 60,000-seat stadium. White asbestos was found last week in a roof panel that had been […]

According to reports we are receiving from our industry associations, shipping lines and stevedores, the ongoing transition to the new SOLAS regulations on declaring correct weight for shipping containers is proceeding smoothly. There are a couple of areas found to be in need of clarification: Accuracy Standards of Approved Weighing Devices. Some questions have arisen […]

While the United Kingdom only accounts for 2.7% of Australia’s exports, we are still subject to the wave of uncertainty Brexit has triggered on global financial markets, and this will be magnified if other EU countries decide to follow in their footsteps. The immediate effect was on exchange rates, with the US dollar rising against […]

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 […]

While some exporters of primary produce are optimistic that Britain’s exit from the EU might present new opportunities for us, there are a couple of areas that Australian traders need to keep an eye on. High on the list of concerns is our exchange rate. In the first 24 hours after the result was announced, […]

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 […]