Annual Packing Declaration Changes
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has recently released clarification around statements in the Minimum documentary and import declaration requirements policy relating to Annual Packing Declaration (APD) validity and which parties may issue them. The minimum documents policy currently states the following in relation to Annual Packing Declarations and who can issue them:
The Department has released the following clarification to point 2:
“The intent of section 4.5.2 is that the packing declaration must be issued by the exporter who packed the goods in the container, or the supplier who packed the goods in the container, or the packer who packed the goods in the container. A packer is an entity who packs the goods into a container or observes the container being packed for export to an Australian territory”
This means that any Annual Packing Declarations not completed by the entity who packed the goods in the container will no longer be valid.
For example, a supplier who is part of a multinational organisation, exports a container from Singapore, but their head office is based in Hamburg. Head office issues the Annual Packing Declaration and send to Australia for clearance.
In this example, the APD would not be acceptable and would need to be completed by the organisation in Singapore who packed the container. In light of this new advice from the Department of Agriculture, our team will reach out in cases where the APD does not comply to obtain an updated document at the time of clearance.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your Key Account Manager for clarification.
West Gate Tunnel Project – Port Access Impacts Update
In Victoria, Footscray Road will be undergoing major road construction over the next six months as a part of the Westgate Tunnel Project. Footscray Road is the only truck access point for Patrick Stevedores, DP World terminals, MLP and empty parks Qube, ACFS (E-Rail, E-Link, Appleton) and a major arterial for cars heading to and from the city. Footscray Road is also the High Productivity Freight Vehicle network access to VICT at HML weights (Greater than 68.5Tonne Gross) as these vehicles are not provided access over the Westgate Bridge at these weights.
As of today, 11th January 2023, Footscray Road will be closed heading inbound except to the two service lanes. Inevitably, the result of pushing five lanes into two, one of which will be a dedicated turning lane for trucks, is set to cause major traffic congestion delays for all vehicles using this road. The closure inbound will be over three months, and then a following three-month closure for out bound traffic.
Trucking Carriers are currently assessing the impacts on delivery times and costs over this period and have committed to working with the Tunnel Project Coordinators to minimise the impacts to shippers.
Weeks of Strikes Commence In France
Last week, French workers went on strike and joined marches across the country beginning on Thursday, halting trains and cutting electricity production in a nationwide day of protest against government plans to raise the retirement age by two years to 64.
Trucks were backed up along a motorway in northern France after the strike action halted ferry crossings between Dover and Calais, a major sea route for trade between Britain and the continent.
The Port of Dover said it had suspended services to Calais from 0700 GMT and that loading was expected to resume in the afternoon.
Freight traffic on the British side had been contained within the ferry terminal, the Port of Dover added. Further strikes are planned as follows and we will endeavour to keep shippers updated with the impacts on inbound and outbound freight from France as a result;
- Week 23-27 of January: 48 hours of strike – Dates TBC
- Week 30/1 – 3/02: 72 hours of strike – Dates TBC