AUSTRALIAN CUSTOMS NOTICE - Australian Customs Service

DSA is an optional message and clients must nominate if they wish to receive
DSA messages. Further information on this change can be found using the link
http://www.cargosupport.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/DSA_Message.pdf
Minimising Customs Impact on the Supply Chain
Customs seeks to minimise the impact on legitimate trade of its interventions in
the sea cargo environment. It has logistics arrangements in place with the
stevedores, transport providers and a range of other service providers to
facilitate the efficient inspection and examination of containers. All of these
arrangements work most efficiently and impact industry least when Customs
has been able to finalise its border risk assessment prior to the cargo being
discharged.
Additional Free Storage Arrangements
Stevedores currently provide three days free storage for containers once they
are declared available for delivery after discharge from the vessel.
An arrangement has been negotiated with the stevedores where containers
selected for Customs intervention will receive a minimum of 24 hours free
storage when they are returned from the Container Examination Facility, subject
to particular conditions.
To ensure that your cargo will qualify for the additional free storage
arrangements if it is selected for Customs intervention, Customs recommends
that all required documentation is provided at least 24 hours prior to the arrival
of the vessel at the port of discharge. This will allow Customs time to have
finalised its risk assessment, and meet the terms for access to the additional
free storage arrangements:
If you report later than these suggested timeframes, Customs cannot ensure
that you will be eligible for the additional free storage arrangements.
Vessel arrival times are published on the internet via a number of sources,
including Port Authorities and Lloyds List.
Mandatory Reporting Timeframes
Legislative reporting timeframes are unchanged. The Sea Cargo Report must
continue to be lodged 48 hours prior to arrival at the first Australian port.
Industry adoption of the suggested lodgement timeframes for the FID (or other
relevant declaration such as a Self Assessed Clearance) will assist Customs to
complete its border risk assessment function earlier and ensure access to the
additional free storage arrangements offered by the stevedores.
Customs acknowledges that there are a number of issues that can make it
difficult for industry to meet the reporting timeframes outlined above, and
Customs will continue to work with industry representatives to resolve these
issues, and to improve the cargo end-to-end business process.