Australia is hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 2007. During this time, Australian Customs is playing an integral role in APEC through participating in various forums and ensuring delivery of its security requirements.

Specifically, Australian Customs has organised, hosted and chaired the APEC Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures (SCCP) and APEC Customs-Business Dialogue (ACBD). It has also played a key role in the Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR) conference and participated in the APEC Transport Ministerial Industry Showcase.

Australian Customs will maintain its border security role during the 2007 APEC year with a particular focus leading up to and during the week in September when Leaders from the 21 APEC Member Economies will meet in Sydney.

The APEC Australia 2007 year is the largest and most important series of meetings ever held in Australia. Security preparations are comprehensive and involve the full range of Australian Government security agencies, working cooperatively with the relevant state and territory governments, the police services and local authorities as required.

Australia has proven expertise in providing effective security at major international events such as the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, the 2002 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games and is providing the high-level coordination and planning essential for a safe and secure year.

Customs is contributing to the whole-of-Government security effort and has a key role in the processing of APEC Leaders, delegates and their entourages upon arrival in, and departure from Australia.

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was established as an Australian initiative in 1989. Canberra hosted the first informal dialogue of 12 members and adopted a modest program of trade negotiation objectives.

Initially formed as a consultative dialogue, APEC has grown to become one of the world's most important regional summits. Its 21 Member Economies span four continents, are home to more than 2.6 billion people (40 per cent of the world's population) and represent 57 percent of world GDP (US$20.7 trillion) and 46 percent (US$7 trillion) of world trade. (Source: The World Bank and the Korea International Trade Association) APEC is the most economically dynamic region in the world, generating nearly 70 percent of global economic growth in its first 10 years.

The 21 APEC Member Economies are Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People's Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Republic of the Philippines; The Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States; and Viet Nam.

The APEC year culminates with the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, bringing together the leaders of all major regional economies, thousands of delegates, support personnel and the international media, and is one of the most important annual meetings of world leaders.

Dumping occurs when goods are exported to Australia at a price that is below the "normal value" of the goods. The normal value will usually be based on the domestic price of the goods in the country of export.

Dumping is a form of price differentiation between markets. It is not a prohibited practice under international trade agreements. However, remedial action may be taken where dumping causes (or threatens to cause) material injury to an Australian industry.
Dumping measures are imposed on imported goods to offset the effects of injury in the form of "interim dumping duty" (IDD). (Interim) dumping duties and/or countervailing duties are usually imposed for a five-year period. If importers believe that they have paid too much duty they may apply for a final duty assessment.

An alternative remedy to imposing duty is for the Minister to accept a price undertaking from the exporter. By this means the exporter agrees that future trade will be at or above a minimum export price (equal to the normal value or subsidy). Such undertakings also usually apply for a five-year period.

As a tourist or temporary resident, you may bring a motor vehicle or a motorcycle and attached trailer or a caravan to Australia for a period of up to 12 months (or longer under certain circumstances) without paying duty on them, provided they are subsequently exported from Australia.

For this concession to apply, you will need one of the following:

A Carnet De Passages en Douanes issued by an overseas organization which has a reciprocal arrangement with the Australian Automobile Association, or

A cash or bank security, equal to the amount of duty and GST and, where applicable, LCT otherwise payable.
If your vehicle is stolen, damaged or destroyed whilst you are in Australia you should notify Customs as soon as possible at your original port of arrival.

All fittings and accessories imported with your motor vehicle, motorcycle, trailer or caravan must also be exported with that same vehicle.

But Customs has no control or authority over motor vehicle or motorcycle specifications or registration requirements in Australia.Before bringing your vehicle to Australia, you should check with the motor vehicle registration authorities of the State or Territory where it is intended to be registered to ensure that it will meet their registration requirements.

Vehicles can be temporarily imported and legally driven on Australian roads for the period of carnet validity (or temporary importation period) provided registration is still current in the vehicle's country of origin.

Customs container examination facilities have been highly successful since the first CEF opened in November 2002. Illicit drugs with a street value of more than $1.5 billion have been seized and over $84 million in revenue evasion prevented. Total seizures for the period 1 November 2002 to 31 March 2007 include:

162 kg of heroin
4002 kg of ecstasy (MDMA)
395 kg of crystal methylamphetamine (ice)
315 kg cocaine
1270 kg of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine
3200 litres of precursor chemicals, which can be used in the production of amphetamine type stimulants
over 128 million cigarette sticks
more than 202 tonnes of tobacco; and
over 11,000 bottles of alcohol.

There have also been a large number of detections in relation to copyright, trademark, undeclared goods, quarantine, and firearms breaches.

As a first-time migrant or returning Australian resident, you are entitled to bring back with you to Australia, duty and GST free, all your personal and household effects that you have owned and used for the whole of the period of 12 months immediately preceding your departure for Australia.

Certain items are expressly excluded from the definition of "personal and household effects" and are subject to other requirements. These include:

Motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts
Caravans, boats and trailers
Aircraft
Machinery, plant and equipment
Fur apparel

As part of the Australian Government's efforts to promote a high standard of integrity in international business transactions, Customs reminds travellers that the bribing of foreign officials is a crime prosecutable under Australian law. The criminal penalties are significant, and include the possibility of imprisonment.

For well over a century, quarantine has played a critical role in reducing the risk and shaping our nation to become one of the few countries in the world to remain free from the world’s most severe pests and diseases.

While our geographical isolation has played a key role in maintaining this status, our isolation as an island nation is rapidly changing as the barriers of time and distance become less relevant and international travel and trade increase.

With more than 60,000 kilometres of coastline offering a variety of pathways for exotic pests and diseases, AQIS screens, inspects and clears the millions of people, mail parcels, baggage, ships, animals, plants and cargo containers entering Australia every year using X-ray machines, surveillance, and, of course, the instantly recognisable detector dogs.

Australia works across the full continuum of quarantine with pre-border, border and post-border measures. AQIS uses a range of sophisticated technologies and approaches including, research, shared international resources and intelligence, to help prevent the introduction and spread of disease. Surveillance and monitoring of risk areas is also critical along with border control activities, which focus on intercepting and quarantining potential threats at Australia’s airports, seaports, and international mail centres.

Today, quarantine controls at Australia’s borders minimise the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering Australia and protect our $32 billion agriculture export industries as well as our unique environment, native flora and fauna, our tourism industries and lifestyle.

Before you buy:

Know what's restricted or what must be declared - before you go.

Check handicrafts made from raw materials carefully, including woven plant products (mats, bags, placemats) - don't buy items showing signs of insect infestation or damage.

Wooden items – avoid souvenirs with holes (a sign of insect activity), and items with bark on them.

Animal skin products, including drums must be declared, and may require treatment.

Products made from seeds, including juggling and stress balls, necklaces and bracelets must be declared for quarantine inspection (and maybe treatment) when you get home.

Don’t bring food home, including pet food and plane food.

Beware of claims (on packaging or by vendors) that products meet Quarantine / Import requirements. They often don’t.

If you plan on sending your shopping home by freight or mail, declare the contents accurately – penalties will apply for false declaration. You may also be charged for a quarantine inspection.

Be aware that ALL international mail is screened, and that your items might need to be inspected and/or treated (at a cost).

On the plane you’ll be given an Incoming Passenger Card. This is a legal document, and you must tick YES to declare any food, plant material or animal products you're bringing home with you.

The Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia (CBFCA) has influenced substantial change in Integrated Cargo System (ICS) functionality after negotiations with the Australian Customs Service.

With effect from Sunday, matching of the ocean bill of bill of lading data will no longer be an essential requirement within the ICS “cascade” reporting stricture. Accordingly, there will now be a four-hour scheduled ICS outage between 2330 hrs EST on Sunday.

The requirement to reconcile ocean bill of lading between Import and Declarations and Cargo Reports ceased during December 2005. While the CBFCA sees this change in functionality as a major system enhancement, it said it was working with Customs on other change in functionality and interim “workarounds” to improve efficiencies for freight forwarders and to support an environment of being able to better manage cargo reporting compliance.