Customs pushes ‘reporter’ status
- Friday, 09 February 2007
FORWARDERS handling HVLV (high volume low value) traffic on behalf of mail order houses have been reminded by Australian Customs of the advantages of becoming a ‘special reporter’ under the scheme covering this trade sector, including requirements relating to the ICS.
The HVLV scheme was designed by Customs, with industry input, to facilitate the reporting and clearance of eligible bulk mail orders. It is a win-win scenario, reducing the Customs screening workload and minimising delivery delays.
It enables a registered special reporter to make abbreviated reports of eligible consignments at the sub-master air waybill level.
This report may be made by transmitting minimal details to the ICS, provided that the consignment details are available not less than two hours prior to the arrival of the aircraft and are retained by the special reporter within its own electronic recording system.
On request, special reporters can be required to electronically download information at the consignment level to Customs ahead of aircraft arrival, for screening and targeting purposes.
“A key objective of the scheme is to facilitate the provision of real-time information, where required, to allow Customs to risk-assess consignment details for community protection purposes,” explained Customs in notice 2007/10, issued earlier this year.
“In addition, Customs officers have specific monitoring powers to access a special reporter’s premises, subject to the consent of the special reporter, to screen and audit all consignment details reported under the scheme.”
The nature of HVLV cargo, requirements a special reporter must meet, registration and procedures are all outlined in notice 2007/10 which is accessible on the Customs website (www.customs.gov.au)
Logistics training
US logistics firms should have fewer problems finding skilled workers in future. They’ll have more than 400 army reservists to pick from - once they get back from Iraq.
The 316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command will be the first expeditionary sustainment command to be deployed using a new modular logistics concept.
It uses technology and a command structure aimed at better aligning supplies with needs. The unit will be the senior logistics command in Iraq.
