Case Documentation Requirement

Case: Unaccompanied personal effects Effective 25 Sep 2021 to 01 Oct 2021

Documentation Requirements

The information below describes the requirements for documentation presented to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to support the risk assessment of imported goods.

Packing list

1. Complete - All prescribed information required to be on a document must be present and complete. Additional prescribed information below:

   1. The document must include a description and the quantity of the goods.
   2. The document does not need to be on a letterhead but should identify the company/individual issuing the document.

2. Legible - All prescribed information required to be on a document must be legible.
   

3. In English - All prescribed information required to be on a document must be in English. Exceptions to this rule include:

   1. company letterheads do not need to be translated into English but must be in English characters (roman alphabet).
   2. commercial, transport and government certification that are required to comply with international standard formats.
   3. signatures and names of individuals.

   Where a document cannot be provided in English, an affidavit will be accepted from either:

   1. that country’s consulate in Australia.
   2. the Australian embassy in the place of origin.
   3. a translator accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd.

4. Free from erasures and alterations - All prescribed information on a document must be free from erasures and alterations unless endorsed by an employee of the company who issued the document, or an authorised government official from the government department who issued a certificate. The only acceptable endorsement is a company stamp or seal signed by the company employee (including printed name) or a government stamp or seal signed by a government employee (including printed name) applied adjacent to the alteration.

5. Multiple page documents - Multi page document must:

   • include a consignment-specific link on all pages of the document.
     For example, commercial invoices (or similar) must contain the documents individual reference number (e.g. invoice number) or a numerical link on each page of the document.
   • contain an endorsement on the final page of the document, following the information that is being endorsed.

   Where a government issued document has noted attachments, the attachments can follow the endorsement. Where an international standard relating to the issuing of veterinary, government or phytosanitary certification does not explicitly require a link on each page of a multiple page certificate, the department will accept the document linkage on the first page of the certificate. For further information about international standards for veterinary, government and phytosanitary certificates please refer to sections 4.3.3, 4.3.4 and 4.3.5 of this policy.

   Where a non-government issued document has noted attachments, the attachments are required to meet all of the overarching document requirements contained in section 1 of this policy inclusive of endorsement.

6. Conflicting information on documents - Where there is conflicting information contained within a document, the document must not be accepted. Conflicting information occurs when prescribed information on one part of the document conflicts with other prescribed information on the same document.

For further information, please refer to the Minimum documentary and import declaration requirements policy.

Related Information:

• Minimum documentary and import declaration requirements policy