DCN May Edition 2019

INDUSTRY OPINION
Measures to control the brown
marmorated stink bug
A series of enhanced anti-stink bug measures are set to provide added challenges
to industry, writes Andrew Crawford
AS MANY READERS KNOW, THE
response to the brown marmorated stink
bug 2018-2019 season by the Department
of Agriculture and Water Resources
exposed deficiencies in processes. Since the
implementation of the BMSB emergency
measures, FTA members witnessed a
deterioration of service levels across the
department, with key import services such
as bookings and inspections most affected.
A DEFICIENCY SUBMISSION
Based on member feedback, FTA
provided a submission to identify those
deficiencies and provide a clear list of
recommendations and considerations
for the inspector-general of biosecurity.
While many recommendations related
to the department’s staffing levels,
others sought to optimise and expand on
existing initiatives, such as the Approved
Arrangement scheme, the 19.2. Automatic
Entry Processing for Commodities, Cargo
Online Lodgement System and the Highly
Compliant Importer Project. Strong, fair
and consistent compliance is essential to
underpin these systems and arrangements
to allow industry an increased
responsibility to manage biosecurity risks.
STRONG COMPLIANCE RECORD
FTA also advocated that increased
responsibility should be given to those that
have a strong compliance record. We now
know that the upcoming 2019-2020 season
will be expanded to include more target risk
countries. The list of countries includes the
same as 2018/19, however another 23 have
been added. The entire list is as follows:
United States of America, Czech
Republic, France, Canada, Georgia, Russia,
Albania, Germany, Serbia, Andorra,
Greece, Slovakia, Armenia, Hungary,
Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Switzerland,
Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Luxembourg,
Belgium, Liechtenstein, Romania, Bosnia
Andrew Crawford, head of border and
biosecurity, Freight & Trade Alliance
and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Spain,
Bulgaria, Montenegro, Turkey, Croatia,
The Netherlands, Japan (heightened vessel
surveillance will be the measure applied).
UPDATE ON BIOSECURITY LEVY
It now has been confirmed that the start date of the
contentious biosecurity levy has been delayed. In the recent
Federal budget, it was announced that the implementation
date of the biosecurity levy announced in last year’s budget has been changed
from 1 July 2019 to 1 September 2019. This delay is to allow the Industry Steering
Committee (of which Paul Zalai, one of FTA’s directors, is a member) the opportunity
to make recommendations to the minister. The quantum and method of collection
of the biosecurity levy could well be impacted by a change of government.
BACKGROUND
The Biosecurity Import Levy was announced in the 2018 Federal Budget with the
aim to collect $325m over three years from a start date of 1 July 2019. Since that
time there has been significant controversy surrounding the implementation of
the levy, ultimately leading to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
commissioning an independent review by Pegasus Economics. Its report was
publicly released on Friday 29 March 2019.
FTA was privileged to be appointed by the minister to participate with eight other
industry representatives in the committee led by an independent chair (David
Trebeck) and supported by Pegasus Economics.
FTA will continue to be heavily involved in discussions and planning and will
provide readers with further updates as they emerge.
MANDATORY OFFSHORE TREATMENT
The other significant difference for next
season could be the introduction of
mandatory offshore treatment of target
high risk goods shipped in sealed six-sided
containers, as LCL (less than container
load) and FAK (freight of all kinds). This
was the department’s preferred position
for 2018/19 and FTA and others advocated
against this due to several commercial
considerations. FTA will continue to work
with the department on this.
SAFEGUARDING ARRANGEMENTS
The department is developing policies to
allow for certain goods and supply chains
to be recognised under safeguarding
arrangements for the 2019–20 season. A
trial by invitation will be conducted of the
arrangements. We expect more detailed
information in the next few months.
Ruth Swan; FTA
16 May 2019
thedcn.com.au