Australian Quarantine Review Secretariat Australian Quarantine a shared responsibility
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- 8.5.2 Information Systems
- Internet and the worldwide web
- 8.5.3 Detector Dogs
- Airports
- 8.5.3.2 Seaports
- International mail exchanges and couriers
8.5 NEW TECHNOLOGIESX-ray EquipmentThe need to develop and use the latest technologies to detect quarantine breaches at the border is most important. At a time when the quarantine border is coming under increasing pressure, recent developments in soft tissue X-ray machines for baggage and parcel examination and the bar-coding of suspect items represent significant advances with practical use in border protection. Multi-energy X-ray systems are well-suited for screening food items, agricultural products, foliage and cuttings. Recent field testing of the technology at selected airports in Australia has demonstrated that multi-energy machines can be reliably used to identify items such as fruit and some meats that are commonly found in passengers’ baggage and in the parcel post. The latest generation machines are programmable and allow some flexibility in items to be targeted. The most recent trial of a multi-energy X-ray machine of baggage of passengers exiting the red channel (passengers with items to declare) at Mascot Airport revealed that, in addition to items already declared, the machine detected a wide range of undeclared food items. Products such as fresh sprouting lotus seed, beef jerky and vegetable seeds were a few of the prohibited items seized during the two-day trial. A comparison trial was also undertaken using the ACS backscatter X-ray machines. The Review Committee understands the backscatter machine failed to detect a number of items of quarantine concern identified by the multi-energy technology thus calling into question the adequacy of ACS backscatter X-ray machines for quarantine use. The Review Committee regards the extension of multi-energy X-ray technology to all appropriate quarantine border operations (airports, seaports, international mail exchanges and courier depots) as an important technological aid for improving the detection of items of quarantine concern. Although the Review Committee understands that passenger baggage is subject to quarantine examination, additional attention should be paid to returning cruise ships by the use, where available, of mobile baggage X-ray equipment. The Review Committee understands that negotiations on the lease or purchase of a trial mobile machine for examining mail are almost complete, and a trial could be expected to commence in late 1996. Indications are that this technology will provide an increased level of quarantine assurance about parcels. The challenge will be to ensure it is used in the most efficient and effective manner. The Review Committee sees these developments as being of significant assistance in intercepting high risk mail items and encourages the use of this new technology. Recommendation 61: The Review Committee recommends that Quarantine Australia make increased use of X-ray technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of quarantine delivery at the border including airports, seaports, mail exchanges and courier depots. 8.5.2 Information SystemsElectronic information systemsSince 1992, there have been significant developments in the area of electronic initiatives with the Import Clearance Program being involved in the development and implementation of computer systems designed to improve the efficiency and reliability of its operations. In particular, two large and complex computerised information systems have been developed. The first is the AQIS Import Management System (AIMS), which is fundamental to the way AQIS screens commercially imported goods. AIMS is directly linked to the ACS COMPILE system. All consignments of cargo imported into Australia valued at more than $250 require electronic clearance through the ACS COMPILE system. Importers obtain both customs and quarantine clearance through the COMPILE system. Once a registered customs broker has lodged an entry, COMPILE screens tariff codes against AQIS profiles. If flagged by an AQIS profile as subject to quarantine, an AIMS entry must then be lodged through the Joint Entry Management System to obtain quarantine clearance. The Joint Entry Management System is a subsystem of COMPILE that provides the link between COMPILE and AIMS. The Review Committee is aware that ACS is looking at modifications to its systems that, if implemented, could have a significant effect on quarantine border operations. For instance, ACS is considering periodic returns where large companies would lodge COMPILE entries in a consolidated form once a month. From an ACS commercial perspective, this would be beneficial as it would require the broker to initiate and complete the entry and transfer duty and sales tax to ACS once a month. From a quarantine perspective, such a system would be impossible to manage. To meet both import clearance and imported foods concerns, AIMS relies on details of individual consignments being screened before their release by ACS. If consolidated data are to be available only on a monthly basis, the data must be provided for quarantine purposes before import. If this policy is pursued, AQIS may need to develop its own stand-alone version of AIMS to take over data capture activities currently undertaken and accessed from COMPILE, so that AIMS can complete its profiling of cargo for quarantine concerns in a timely way. The Review Committee sees air cargo as an area of quarantine inspection that needs greater attention, and urges Quarantine Australia to continue to work with ACS to develop appropriate electronic systems for air cargo clearance. Goods under the COMPILE value limit of $250 — a significant proportion of air cargo — pose particular quarantine concern because they are usually not cleared through COMPILE but by a system of air waybills screened through the Air Cargo Automation system. Although AQIS has profiles in the Air Cargo Automation system targeted at goods of quarantine concern, the system was devised for customs purposes and its descriptions of consignments are often not sufficiently described for quarantine identification. At present, quarantine screening must thus be undertaken manually for air cargo valued at less than $250. One solution is to develop better electronic identification and clearance systems with more appropriate tariff codes to flag consignments of quarantine concern, as is done with sea cargo. Considering the extensive experience that the ACS has in cargo clearance and associated electronic systems, future developments in quarantine cargo clearance electronic systems will require close cooperation and consultation with ACS. Recommendation 62: The Review Committee recommends that Quarantine Australia liaise closely with the Australian Customs Service to ensure that customs electronic information systems meet Australia’s quarantine requirements, including for the quarantine inspection and clearance of air cargo. The other major system being developed by AQIS and due to be field-tested in late 1996 is the Export Import Conditions Database, which is an electronic information system designed to replace and improve the current paper-based systems for the issue of permits. It will also incorporate an electronic quarantine manual. The main components of the system are: · a maintenance system to allow all import conditions to be set and modified by the Canberra office; · a query system for field staff based on the up-to-date data in the maintenance system; and · a national permit-issuing system for all products requiring import permits. As mentioned previously, changes being considered by ACS will, if implemented, have a major effect on quarantine operations, and will result in a need for significant additional development of computerised information systems for quarantine purposes. The Review Committee anticipates that service delivery to clients will be improved by the introduction of the Export Import Conditions Database. The refinement of AIMS to maximise industry usage and to incorporate the screening of imported foods consignments is a major priority, particularly for air cargo where the system of identification of product of possible quarantine concern is far inferior to the computerised system used to process sea cargo. Recommendation 63: The Review Committee recommends that Quarantine Australia develop and increase the use of electronic information systems to speed the clearance of cargo, subject to the development of satisfactory quality assurance systems and audit procedures. Internet and the worldwide webSection 7.4.1.1 of this Report dealing with risk analysis canvasses the use of the internet as a means of making up-to-date information on import protocols, applications to import, and assessments of applications publicly available. Extension of this facility to include the export and import conditions contained in the Export Import Conditions Database should be encouraged to make this information also available to the widest possible clientele. The Review Committee welcomes the initiative to transfer this information to electronic systems and believes that priority should be given to extending the system to all available staff and clients, and to including as much information as possible on the internet through a home page on the worldwide web. Recommendation 64: The Review Committee recommends that Quarantine Australia provide import protocols and manuals via electronic information systems, including the internet through a home page on the worldwide web. 8.5.3 Detector DogsThe quarantine detector dog program introduced in 1992 has proved to be most successful. The program involves training both passive and active dogs ¾ the passive dogs are used in passenger clearance, and the active (generally larger) dogs are used in mail exchanges and airport areas not accessible to the public. AirportsAirport teams consist of a dog (beagle) and handler. Each team goes through eight weeks of training at the National Training Centre. Before being matched with a handler, each dog undergoes a minimum of five weeks of scent discrimination training and by the end of the course each dog will successfully respond, passively, to up to 15 different scents. These scents range from meat and meat products to fruit, vegetables, plant cuttings, eggs, as well as live birds and reptiles. Currently, the program has one active and 14 passive dogs. The Review Committee understands that recruitment of four active dogs is in progress, with training to commence early in 1997. However, additional resources would be required to provide sufficient teams to staff the major airports for all shifts and to provide additional capacity for other activities such as seaports and other areas of the import clearance program. During the public hearing process, a number of submissions referred to the success of the program and the high level of passenger acceptance of the dogs. However, an exception to this high level of acceptance is with some visitors from Asia who may be alarmed by the proximity of the dog. This concern should be able to be addressed by increasing awareness of the role and purpose of the detector dogs before travellers depart for Australia. The Review Committee sees this as a useful program that greatly assists in the border detection process and one deserving of further expansion. At present, there are insufficient teams for all shifts at all airports. The Review Committee believes that additional resources should be made available to enable Quarantine Australia to have at least one dog team on duty for all shifts at all major Australian international airports. 8.5.3.2 SeaportsAs mentioned in Section 8.3.1, the Review Committee sees seaports as an area requiring more attention. The obvious success of the detector dog program at international airports leads the Review Committee to the view that more use should be made of the detector dogs at seaports, particularly for wharf patrols. The physical presence of the teams, particularly the uniformed officer with the dog — coupled with targeted quarantine signs as recommended in Section 8.9.3 — should significantly increase quarantine awareness around seaports. International mail exchanges and couriersAQIS is undertaking a pilot trial using an active dog at Brisbane. All classes of international mail are covered when the dog and handler are on duty. To date, the trial is proving very successful, with both high coverage (90%) and a high accuracy (97%) being achieved while a dog team is working. It is anticipated that when the trial is completed in late 1996, dogs will be used regularly. Each mail exchange will need to be assessed to ascertain the number of teams required, given the variations in work practices between exchanges. The Review Committee is strongly of the view that there should be a consistent quarantine approach to international mail ¾ whether handled by couriers or by mail exchanges. Thus the Review Committee believes that detector dogs should also be used for the inspection of international courier mail. Recommendation 65: The Review Committee recommends that the detector dog program be expanded as soon as possible to ensure that: at least one dog team is available for all shifts at all major international airports; – teams are available for clearance of passengers and for wharf surveillance at seaports; and – teams are available for use at international mail exchanges and courier depots. Directory: SiteCollectionDocuments SiteCollectionDocuments -> Emerging Transport Technologies SiteCollectionDocuments -> Lesson Plan What are smart goals? 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