News

01.2009

Import Sea Freight

Patrick wharf to charge for paper delivery orders

George Turner Customs has received advice from Patrick wharf terminal that they will be levying a fee of $35 for all paper based delivery orders presented to them from January 1st 2009.

The only shipping company still using paper based delivery orders is ANL.

It is understood that DP World is likely to follow the lead of Patrick’s on this issue.

12.2008

Port and Logistic Operations

Port operations during Christmas/New Year holidays

25th December - All Australian ports will be closed

Some Australian ports will be fully operational Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day.

These days will be considered as part of the three days of free storage.

The port operators have advised that they expect delays as a result of limited staff numbers over these days.

The operating hours of container yards will not be affected by the Christmas/New Year period and will be operating as normal even on designated public holidays.

The difference in hours of operation may result in storage and or detention.

George Turner Offices Christmas/New Year Operations

George Turner Customs wishes to advise clients of the following for the Christmas and New Year period.

• 24th December – Normal operating hours
• 25th December – All offices will be closed
• 26th December – All offices will be closed
• 31st December – Normal operating hours
• 1St January – All offices will be closed

If you are anticipating consignments to be arriving over this period please contact one of our offices to make arrangements ASAP.

Have a Merry Christmas and a safe 2009

Shipping

Hapag Lloyd & CMA CGM Merger

The merger of Hapag Lloyd and CMA CGM has resulted in restructuring processes and omissions of ports by some vessels. Space availability has tightened and delays for cargo arrivals may result.

European voyages have also been affected with the below vessels cancelling their sailings.

Passat Spring V 8040
Sailing mid October – Cancelled

Canberra Express V 8042
Sailing end October – Cancelled

Alexandra Rickmers V 8044
Sailing mid November – Cancelled

Port Charges

Increase to Port Charges

George Turner wishes to advice that carriers have announced an increase to port and terminal charges. As a result of this George Turner Customs will need to pass on these increases. The current costs will increase by 8% with effect from 1st November 2008.

Customs

Increase to Luxury Car Tax Rate

George Turner Customs wishes to advice clients that as a result of the passing of the proposed increase to the Luxury Car Tax Rate (LCT) in the Government’s 2008-2009 budget, the LCT rate has increased from 25% to 33% for vehicles valued over the LCT threshold of $57,180.

The passed legislation also makes available some new concessions including an exemption from LCT for certain fuel efficient luxury cars. To meet the definition of a fuel efficient luxury car, the vehicle must have a fuel consumption of 7 litres per 100 kilometres or less and have a value under $75,000.

For further information please contact George Turner Customs.

(Source Australian Customs Notice No. 2008/50 & 2008/51)

AQIS

Changes to AQIS Policy on Used Machinery Permits

George Turner Customs wishes to advice clients that AQIS has reviewed its procedures in relation to issuing permits for used machinery.

The new policy advices importers of the following;

1. Apply for a permit before shipping
2. Clean your machine(s) offshore
3. Do not assume a permit will be granted
4. AQIS will only send permits to importers

Failure to comply with any of these requirements may result in the permit application being rejected or the permitted machine(s) being re-exported at the importers expense.

For further inform please follow the below link or contact George Turner Customs. http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/872708/22-08-09.pdf

Australia-Chile Free Trade Agreement

The negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) between Australia and Chile has been completed and is expected to be in force by 1st of January 2009.

The agreement is Australia’s fifth trade agreement and is the first with a Latin American Country.

The FTA is comprehensive and will cover goods, services and investment with the vast majority of merchandise exchanged between the two countries entered duty free with tariffs on all other merchandise trade eliminated by 2015.

Increase to AQIS Import Clearance Fees

The delay of the fee increases announced by the AQIS on 12th of August has been due to issues with the Australian Customs Service Integrated Cargo System.

Subsequently these new fees are due to be imposed from Monday 13th October 2008.

Please see the below table for some of the proposed new charges. For a full list of the new fee structure please follow this link

Port Operations
DP World Sunday Operations

George Turner Customs would like to highlight that following the introduction of DP World’s decision to include Sunday as a day of container availability additional charges for supply chain users are likely to occur due to the following points:

• Limited importer and exporter operating hours in weekends, resulting in staged movements of containers to transport yards for subsequent secondary delivery;
  
  
• Limited approved AQIS external wash facilities operational on a Sunday;
  
  
• Little to no opportunities to de-hire empty containers on weekends, resulting in further staging and added costs;
  
  
• No operation of the Customs’ container examination facility on a Sunday.

(Source Lloyd’s List DCN 02 Oct 2008)

George Turner Customs will seek ways to avoid additional charges as a result of this policy but advises clients that these charges, if incurred will need to be passed on to the end user.

AQIS
Changes to charges

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service have increased their fees effective 12th August 2008.

Please follow the link below to review this new cost structure.

http://www.daffa.gov.au/data/assets/pdf_file/0011/757604/03-08-09.pdf

Increased Surveillance

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service have initiated increased surveillance and follow up inspections resulting from packing declarations incorrectly declaring materials used in consignments.

George Turner Customs advises clients to remind all suppliers of the importance of correctly declaring the packaging used within consignments.

Customs
Duty Recovery

George Turner Customs advises clients to make themselves aware of the provisions of new legislation affecting Duty recovery by the Australian Customs Service. Below is a link to Australian Customs Notice 2008/40 which outlines these changes.

http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/notices/ACN0840.pdf

Increase to the Luxury Car Tax Threshold

George Turner Customs has received notice from the Australian Customs Service that the luxury car tax threshold has increased effective from 1st July 2008 to $57,180 for the 2008-09 financial year.

Below is a link to Australian Customs Notice 2008/32 which gives further details of this increase.

http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/notices/ACN0832.pdf