Australian Quarantine Review Secretariat Australian Quarantine a shared responsibility

Download 1.49 Mb.

Page	59/62
Date	05.05.2018
Size	1.49 Mb.
	#47737

1 ... 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62

7 Electronic Initiatives

The Electronic Initiatives Program is concerned with the development and implementation of computer systems designed to improve the efficiency and reliability of AQIS's import clearance operations. In this regard, AQIS has developed AIMS, which is an innovative and technologically advanced computer system. AIMS is used to screen all incoming cargo for items of quarantine concern. It also allows AQIS to manage the clearance of cargo it targets for quarantine inspection. AIMS is fundamental to the way AQIS screens inbound commercial cargo, and is directly linked to the COMPILE cargo clearance system of the Australian Customs Service (ACS).

8 Air Cargo Clearance

Air cargo is a specialised and rapidly growing area of imported cargo. Clearance arrangements, including initial screening for items of quarantine risk, are facilitated through the ACS Air Cargo Automation system that is accessed by AQIS.

There has been a rapid expansion of product being imported in this way and this is due at least in part, to the large quantity of material previously carried by Australia Post and now despatched through international air couriers. This has resulted in a significant increase in workload for quarantine staff.
The task of screening this cargo is undertaken by ACS officers who manually screen each air way bill and refer relevant items to AQIS.

9 General Cargo Clearance

General cargo clearance includes all the specific areas covered under import clearance separately, plus all the remaining imported cargo that does not fit into any one of the separate categories (e.g. machinery, yachts, break bulk cargo).

There are two primary points of entry for cargo — seaports and airports. Many of the cargo clearance issues are common to both. In addition to the clearance of the cargo itself, there are other quarantine concerns with general cargo clearance. The key points are inspection and control of dunnage or packaging, surveillance at points of entry, garbage control (for which primary responsibility rests with the Seaports Program), and vector monitoring (for which primary responsibility rests with the Seaports Program and the Airports Program).
The primary method for screening all imported cargo is via computer systems for which AQIS has links to the ACS electronic systems (i.e. COMPILE, Sea Cargo Automation and Air Cargo Automation). In addition to the screening of the cargo itself, AQIS also screens any timber being imported with the goods and inspection staff undertake surveillance of wharfs and depots to ensure quarantine goods are not moved unless under quarantine direction.

10 Airports

The Airports Program covers the clearance of international aircraft, passengers, crew and their baggage, at international airports around Australia. All aircraft arriving from overseas are required to land at approved landing places unless special permission to land elsewhere is obtained before arrival. Approved landing places are located in every State in Australia.

10.1 Aircraft Disinsection

Aircraft disinsection involves the treatment of aircraft cabins and holds with an insecticide to destroy insects that are potential exotic pests or vectors of exotic diseases. Aircraft disinsection is carried out in accordance with procedures approved by the Director of Quarantine and under protocols recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Three methods are currently recommended by WHO:
· residual spray treatment of interior surfaces every eight weeks (preferred by WHO);
· pre-embarkation spray followed by a top-of-descent spray; and
· on-arrival treatment prior to the passengers and crew disembarking.
AQIS has advised the Review that these procedures have recently been the subject of review and are expected to be revised later this year. At present every aircraft arriving in Australia from overseas must have the cabins and holds disinsected. This is with the exception of aircraft travelling from New Zealand — these are only required to have their holds disinsected. The procedures require that the cabins, including the lockers, toilets, galleys and flight deck are given a pre-spray before the passengers board. The cabins only receive a further spray at top of descent. Holds are sprayed at the last overseas port just before the doors are closed.
As an alternative, the cabins and holds are treated with a residual insecticide at eight-week intervals. No further spray is required in the cabins, but the holds still require treatment at the last overseas port, but with a smaller amount of insecticide.

10.2 Waste Disposal

Galley waste from overseas aircraft is disposed of under quarantine direction. The methods of disposal most favoured and currently approved are incineration, deep burial or heat treatment.

10.3 Vector Monitoring

AQIS undertakes trapping and identification of mosquitoes around airport perimeters to check for the presence of vectors of human diseases. This is done under the International Health Regulations as part of a WHO-recommended vector monitoring program.

10.4 Quarantine Preclearance of Military Aircraft, Shipping and Cargo

AQIS field staff handle all quarantine matters relating to the transport of personnel and equipment by foreign defence forces wishing to travel to Australia for exercises, and for Australian forces returning from overseas deployments.

Since 1992, quarantine officers have been sent overseas on a full cost-recovery basis, to pre-clear the equipment of foreign military forces at the point of embarkation. Some exercises require a shipload of vehicles and equipment to be cleaned and cleared before departure. The advantages are that the clearance is done offshore thereby minimising risk and that the defence forces can commence exercising immediately on arrival, rather than having to wait for vehicles and equipment to be cleared in often difficult terrain and conditions.

10.5 Pratique (Aircraft)

In accordance with International Health Regulations (Article 35), pratique, or health clearance, must be obtained by all aircraft arriving in Australia from overseas. Pratique is granted to scheduled aircraft at main airports after receipt of a radio message from the captain of the aircraft via the handling agent, advising that there are no sick persons or live animals on board and that disinsection has been undertaken in accordance with AQIS requirements. Aircraft not meeting this requirement are checked on arrival by quarantine officers. Any sick persons on board are interviewed to ascertain if they are likely to be suffering from a quarantinable disease (plague, cholera, yellow fever, typhus fever, leprosy or a viral haemorrhagic fever). Any live animals on board are inspected on arrival by a quarantine officer.

10.6 Travellers Statement

Before entry into Australia, all aircraft passengers are required to declare in writing whether they have been in Central or South America or in Africa during the previous three weeks. If they have, further investigations are undertaken to ascertain if they are required to have a valid international vaccination certificate for yellow fever. Any passenger who does not posses a valid certificate is advised to attend a medical practitioner if he or she develops a fever.

Also included on the form are questions asking the travellers to declare whether or not they have been on a farm or in contact with farm animals in the past thirty days, and a number of questions on what food or animal or plant material (if anything) they are bringing into Australia.

10.7 Detector Dogs

The Quarantine Detector Dog Program was introduced to counter the threat of items of primary quarantine concern passing undetected through international airports in passengers' baggage. AQIS currently operates fourteen detector dog teams at airports around Australia — five at Sydney airport, two at each of Brisbane, Cairns and Melbourne airports, and one at each of Adelaide, Darwin and Perth airports.

A team consists of a beagle and handler. Each team undertakes eight weeks of training at the National Training Centre at Heathcote, New South Wales. Before being matched with a handler, each dog undergoes a minimum of five weeks of training in scent discrimination. By the end of the course, each dog will successfully respond passively to up to 15 different scents. These range from meat and meat products, fruit, vegetables, plant foliage and cuttings, to eggs, live birds and reptiles.

Download 1.49 Mb.

Share with your friends:

1 ... 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62