Amazon can test drones in the UK, but they may cause 'supply chain nightmares'

Retail giant Amazon is set to use small drone technology to deliver its parcels to UK customers, following the permission of the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority to start its Prime Air research and development programme. While the CAA is keen to support innovation, drone delivery posits significant questions about redefining traditional supply chain routes. Read More

Source: Loadstar

Shipping Giant Shows Why We Are in Deep Water on Deflation

It is a sign of stunted investor expectations when an 89 per cent slide in quarterly profit triggers a 3 percent share price jump. Read More

Source: Chris Bryant | Bloomberg Gadfy

2016/17 Measures to Manage Stink Bugs

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has developed the following measures to manage the seasonal risk of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) infestations in break bulk and containerised sea cargo shipped from the United States. Read More

Australia and New Zealand Sign Arrangement to Streamline Trade

Australian Border & Protection

Trusted Trans-Tasman exporters will be rewarded with fast-tracked customs processing at Australian and New Zealand borders under a new arrangement between the two countries.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection and New Zealand Customs Service (NZ Customs) signed a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) last Friday, to recognise the supply chain security programmes of both countries.

Australian Border Force (ABF) Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg, and NZ Customs Comptroller, Carolyn Tremain, met at the World Customs Organization’s sessions in Brussels to sign the MRA.

Commissioner Quaedvlieg said the arrangement would benefit members of the Australian Trusted Trader (ATT) programme and the NZ Customs Secure Export Scheme (SES).

“It is anticipated that the MRA will allow $3 billion of New Zealand exports to Australia to be fast tracked,” Commissioner Quaedvlieg said.

“As we increase membership of the ATT programme, we expect that $7.5 billion of Australian exports to New Zealand will benefit from the MRA by 2020.

“The MRA provides benefits to trusted traders of both countries and provides border agencies greater end-to-end assurance of imports and exports.

“Reducing the regulatory duplication between the two schemes will make it easier for Australian and New Zealand businesses to trade with each other and boost the international competitiveness of both countries.”

NZ Customs Comptroller Carolyn Tremain said the two agencies already work closely together and this arrangement will provide further assurance over trans-Tasman trade for both countries.

“The MRA means New Zealand’s Secure Export Scheme members will benefit from a faster and smoother border experience with our closest neighbour, and gives traders on both side of the Tasman a competitive advantage,” Ms Tremain said.

Source: Australian Border & Protection 

ANL, Coscon and OOCL under A3 alliance to launch Asia-Oz loops

OOCL has unveiled the joint services it will operate in conjunction with partners ANL and Coscon under the newly formed Asia Australia Consortium (A3) that will focus on the trade between North East Asia and Australia.

The A3 will launch three dedicated services, namely the Northern Express, Central Express and Southern Express, connecting 10 major North East Asia ports with Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Subject to regulatory approval, the A3 plans to launch the new services starting from September or October.

The port rotation for the weekly Northern Express is Yokohama, Osaka, Busan, Qingdao, Shanghai, Kaohsiung, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and back to Yokohama.

The Central Express is also a weekly service, with the following port rotation: Shanghai, Ningbo, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and back to Shanghai.

The port rotation for the weekly Southern Express is Kaohsiung, Xiamen, Shenzhen-Shekou, Hong Kong, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and back to Kaohsiung

Illegal Logging Laws: Extension to 'soft-start' compliance period

On 25 February 2016, the Australian Government released the final report of the KPMG led Independent review of the impact of the illegal logging regulations on small business.

The report proposed a package of regulatory and non-regulatory reforms to minimise the costs of complying with the Regulation.

In light of this process and the potential for further changes to the Regulation, the department has decided to extend the initial 'soft-start' compliance period until any amendments from the KPMG review have been finalised. This is expected to extend the soft-start period until late 2016 or early 2017.

​A further Compliance Advice Notice will be released to advise when the 'soft-start' compliance period will end.​

20Cube are available to discuss further and assist clients with ensuring they comply with the Regulations.

Changes to Import Requirements for Used Machinery, Used Equipment & Used Parts

The Department of Agriculture & Water Resources has issued an industry advice notice regarding the importation of used machinery, equipment and parts.

Importers, customs agents and brokers have been advised that from 16 June, 2016, an import permit will no longer be required, a change that coincides with the commencement of the Biosecurity Act 2015.

How does this affect you?

If you're an importer of used machinery, equipment and parts, then you will no longer need to obtain a permit. The aim of the new arrangment is to reduce costs and regulatory burden to importers.

BICON was updated on 16 June to reflect the change.

Your opportunity to contribute to revised import conditions

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has commenced a review into the management of biosecurity risks associated with imported used machinery and equipment, which may result in further changes to import conditions​ for these goods. 

A discussion paper is expected to be released in July/August 2016 outlining the proposed changes and affected stakeholders will be invited to provide comment.   

  

Further information

Any enquiries regarding this change, please contact your 20Cube team for more information.

Reminder: Import permits required prior to arrival of goods

With the commencement of the new Biosecurity Act 2015 on 16 June 2016, importers are reminded of the need to obtain any relevant import permits prior to the arrival of goods in Australia.

If you intend to import goods into Australia that require import permits eg fertilizer products, you must comply with the new legislation.

Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, the department cannot issue an import permit for goods that have already landed. In the past, the department has facilitated imports that have landed without a permit by allowing importers to apply for a permit. This will no longer be the case.

For more information, please visit the DAWR website.

AADA increases China-Australia rate US$300/TEU from July 1

Member lines of the Asia Australia Discussion Agreement (AADA) will levy a US$300 per TEU rate increase from July 1 on cargo from mainland China and Hong Kong to ports and points in Australia.

This increase will apply in full on top of existing ongoing market rates and will be subject to accessorial surcharges applicable at the time of shipment.

AADA is a voluntary discussion forum of 16 ocean carriers serving the trade from North and East Asia to destinations in Australia.

Members include ANL Singapore, APL, China Shipping Container Line (HK), Cosco, Evergreen Line, Hamburg Sud, Hanjin Shipping, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, "K" Line, Maersk Line, MSC, MOL, NYK, OOCL, PIL, Sinotrans Container Lines, TS Lines and Yang Ming.

For more information, please contact 20Cube.

AADA bunker surcharge rises to US$150/TEU, $300/FEU on June 18

Member lines of the Asia Australia Discussion Agreement (AADA) have increased the bunker surcharge US$150 per TEU and US$300 per FEU for dry and refrigerated containers from Japan, Korea, mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to ports in Australia from June 18.

This reflects recent increases in the price of oil at Hong Kong and South Korea, the AADA said. Customers requiring further information concerning the bunker surcharge are to contact the member lines.

"AADA members have adopted voluntary policy guidelines and have reached a non-binding consensus on the above arrangement," the AADA statement said.

Member AADA lines are ANL Singapore, APL, China Shipping Container Line (HK), Cosco, Evergreen Line, Hamburg Sud, Hanjin Shipping, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, "K" Line, Maersk Line, MSC, MOL, NYK, OOCL, PIL, Sinotrans Container Lines, TS Lines and Yang Ming.