Changes

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has made changes to the Seals Intact inspection requirements of imported containerised mined and chemical (natural or synthetic) fertiliser.

The change applies to containerised consignments that have been assessed by the department as having a ‘Risk Level 2’ or ‘Risk Level 3’ classification, and includes containerised product that has been imported as both bagged and/or in bulk (loose).

As part of this change, the associated importing conditions, onshore pathways/outcomes and directions (including direction comments) have also been updated in the BICON ‘Fertilisers’ case.

Under the new importing conditions, consignments of containerised mined and chemical fertiliser are no longer required to undergo a departmental Seals Intact inspection as part of the importation process. Instead, verification of the seal integrity will be undertaken biosecurity industry participants (BIPs) responsible for receiving consignments of imported containerised mined or chemical fertiliser at the nominated approved arrangement site.

As part of the change, BIPs are now required to:

• Confirm that the physical container seal number(s) match the container seal numbers as described on the commercial documentation. This must be performed prior to unpacking/tipping the fertiliser from the container(s).
• Where seals numbers match – the BIP must unpack/tip the fertiliser from the container, prior to biosecurity officer arrival.

Note: Containers with seal numbers that do not much must not be unpacked/tipped, and the department must be notified. Containers that have matching seal numbers but have had biosecurity risk material identified at the time of unpacking/tipping but also be reported to the department.

Who does this notice affect:
Biosecurity industry participants (BIPs) involved in the importation of containerised mined and chemical (natural or synthetic) fertilisers that have previously required Seals Intact inspections, as well as Pathway Operations Cargo – Assessment & Inspections Groups.

Further information:
Please contact the Sea Cargo Policy team via email at SeaCargoPolicy@agriculture.gov.au.