Inbound air cargo ban widens - with very few exemptions for shippers in affected countries
AirCargo 240 archive stories
Saturday, 16 January 2016
AUSTRALIA’s December 19 widening of its ban on air cargo from - or trans-shipped via - specific strife-torn countries is not political.
It’s simply a realistic response to a heightened possibility of civil or military unrest spilling into Australia - and builds on an existing protocol that has caused little or no angst.
That protocol covered the carriage of air cargo from Yemen and Somalia to Australia.
Now those countries have been joined by Syria, Egypt and Bangladesh.
The move was not triggered by any specific threat. The Federal Government has stressed the bans are preventive measures.
The ban covers cargo carried aboard both passenger aircraft and freighters. It does not affect maritime, rail or road shipment.
Egypt and Bangladesh have some limited exceptions. Items normally exempt from screening under Australian border regulations – such as diplomatic bags, letter products and very small items of cargo – are exempt and can be sent as air cargo.
For Syria, Yemen and Somalia there are no exemptions at all. Official definition of a letter product is an item of cargo which has ALL these characteristics: It weighs 500g or less, contains only flexible items, longest dimension of 360mm or less, second longest dimension is 260mm or less and shortest dimension is 20mm or less.
This means that some business documents, for example, could not be dispatched by air cargo from Egypt and Bangladesh by commercial companies or individuals.
A small item of air cargo is defined as weighing 250g or less and with a shortest dimension of 5mm or less.
The expanded bans were implemented through legislative ‘prohibited cargo’ instruments made by Warren Truss at ministerial level. They are authorised under Section 65B(2)(b) of the Aviation Transport Security Act 2014.
They will stay in place until revoked, again at ministerial level.
Such instruments do not require parliamentary approval but normally are discussed in cabinet prior to making or revoking, drawing on appropriate advice and documentation from the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development’s Office of Transport Security (OTS).
Among its designated duties, OTS is required to monitor aviation security developments in association with international partners. It can draw on a variety of intelligence sources, including other government agencies.
Interestingly, multi-modal supply chains can continue. OTS, answering a hypothetical question involving Bangladesh-produced garments being sent to Australia (a substantial trade), notes they could potentially be sent as sea freight to Singapore or by road to India, then on to Australia by air.
Extending the hypothetical questioning, OTS posits the situation of an Australian company’s staff member returning home from Bangladesh with samples. No problem: There are no prohibitions on passengers’ checked or carry-on baggage.
And then there’s the shipper who says: “My air cargo is sent from Bangladesh to Australia via Hong Kong – will that be permitted?”
The answer: “If the air cargo is transferred between flights at the airport (also known as a tail to tail transfer) it is considered as originating from Bangladesh and will not be allowed. If the cargo clears Customs in Hong Kong, and is subsequently sent to Australia, it is considered to be air cargo originating from Hong Kong and will not be subject to the prohibition.”
OK, last question: “My international freight forwarder security screens all cargo – can we receive an exemption?”
Nope: “The prohibitions are a legal requirement of the government implemented under specific provisions made by the parliament. It is not possible for the department to grant an exemption under the legislation.”
Real (as opposed to hypothetical) shippers, brokers and forwarders can do further Q&A by emailing OTS: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Inbound air cargo ban widens - with very few exemptions for shippers in affected countries
AirCargo 240 archive stories
Saturday, 16 January 2016
AUSTRALIA’s December 19 widening of its ban on air cargo from - or trans-shipped via - specific strife-torn countries is not political.
It’s simply a realistic response to a heightened possibility of civil or military unrest spilling into Australia - and builds on an existing protocol that has caused little or no angst.
That protocol covered the carriage of air cargo from Yemen and Somalia to Australia.
Now those countries have been joined by Syria, Egypt and Bangladesh.
The move was not triggered by any specific threat. The Federal Government has stressed the bans are preventive measures.
The ban covers cargo carried aboard both passenger aircraft and freighters. It does not affect maritime, rail or road shipment.
Egypt and Bangladesh have some limited exceptions. Items normally exempt from screening under Australian border regulations – such as diplomatic bags, letter products and very small items of cargo – are exempt and can be sent as air cargo.
For Syria, Yemen and Somalia there are no exemptions at all. Official definition of a letter product is an item of cargo which has ALL these characteristics: It weighs 500g or less, contains only flexible items, longest dimension of 360mm or less, second longest dimension is 260mm or less and shortest dimension is 20mm or less.
This means that some business documents, for example, could not be dispatched by air cargo from Egypt and Bangladesh by commercial companies or individuals.
A small item of air cargo is defined as weighing 250g or less and with a shortest dimension of 5mm or less.
The expanded bans were implemented through legislative ‘prohibited cargo’ instruments made by Warren Truss at ministerial level. They are authorised under Section 65B(2)(b) of the Aviation Transport Security Act 2014.
They will stay in place until revoked, again at ministerial level.
Such instruments do not require parliamentary approval but normally are discussed in cabinet prior to making or revoking, drawing on appropriate advice and documentation from the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development’s Office of Transport Security (OTS).
Among its designated duties, OTS is required to monitor aviation security developments in association with international partners. It can draw on a variety of intelligence sources, including other government agencies.
Interestingly, multi-modal supply chains can continue. OTS, answering a hypothetical question involving Bangladesh-produced garments being sent to Australia (a substantial trade), notes they could potentially be sent as sea freight to Singapore or by road to India, then on to Australia by air.
Extending the hypothetical questioning, OTS posits the situation of an Australian company’s staff member returning home from Bangladesh with samples. No problem: There are no prohibitions on passengers’ checked or carry-on baggage.
And then there’s the shipper who says: “My air cargo is sent from Bangladesh to Australia via Hong Kong – will that be permitted?”
The answer: “If the air cargo is transferred between flights at the airport (also known as a tail to tail transfer) it is considered as originating from Bangladesh and will not be allowed. If the cargo clears Customs in Hong Kong, and is subsequently sent to Australia, it is considered to be air cargo originating from Hong Kong and will not be subject to the prohibition.”
OK, last question: “My international freight forwarder security screens all cargo – can we receive an exemption?”
Nope: “The prohibitions are a legal requirement of the government implemented under specific provisions made by the parliament. It is not possible for the department to grant an exemption under the legislation.”
Real (as opposed to hypothetical) shippers, brokers and forwarders can do further Q&A by emailing OTS: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
AUSTRALIA’s December 19 widening of its ban on air cargo from - or trans-shipped via - specific strife-torn countries is not political. 
