Case Documentation Requirement

Case: Human bodies and remains Effective 24 Feb 2016 to 26 Feb 2016

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.

Extract from official register

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

   1. The certificate must detail the name of the deceased and show the date, place and cause of death.
      

   2. The extract must be a certified true copy.
      

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

3. Valid - Many documents, such as import permits, are valid for a certain period. Presented documents must comply with the validity requirements specified for that class of document.
   

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

   1. company letterheads that do not need to be translated into English but must be in English characters
      

   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 country of origin
      

   3. a translator accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd.
      

5. Free from erasures and non certified alterations - All prescribed information on the document must be free from erasures and alterations unless endorsed by the issuer of the document. 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.
   

6. Multiple page documents - Multi page document must:
   

   • include individual reference numbers/numerical link on ALL pages of the document.
     For example, commercial invoices (or similar) must contain the documents individual reference number or 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.
     

   Note: where a document has noted attachments, the attachments can follow the endorsement.
   

7. Endorsed - All documents must be endorsed by a representative of the organisation or corporation issuing the document. An endorsement must:
   

   1. be an acceptable signature or stamp as defined in the Definitions section of this policy
      

   2. appear after the information that the signatory is endorsing.
      

   Where a document has noted attachments, the endorsement can be made before the attachments.
   

8. Date of issue - All documents must identify the date of issue and is to include the day, month and year. Packing declarations may contain vessel/voyage number which can be used in lieu of the date of issue.
   

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

Related Information:

• Minimum documentary and import declaration requirements policy