Some may regard customs as a necessary annoyance in the exporting process, but it doesn’t have to be. There’s more to customs than just checking freight. Find out what role border protection plays, how exporters can benefit and make your Customs and Border Protection experience a breeze.
Australian Customs and Border Protection Service manages the security and integrity of Australia’s borders and works closely with other government and international agencies to detect and deter the unlawful movement of goods and people across the border. Customs and Border Protection works closely with the exporting and importing industry to manage and facilitate the movement of cargo in and out of Australia.
The start of 2009 saw a change in name from ‘Customs’ to ‘Customs and Border Protection’. With this change brings recognition of the increased important border protection responsibilities, including a lead role in ensuring a coordinated response to threats to our border.
For exporters, the most pertinent information relates to Customs and Border Protection procedures for cargo clearance, and the regulatory compliance framework surrounding cargo export.
The integrated cargo system
Of particular relevance to Australian exporters is the Integrated Cargo System (ICS). The ICS is a software application that replaced previous import and export reporting and processing computer systems with one integrated IT system.
Implemented in October 2004 for exports, and October 2005 for imports, this represented the most significant change to the way the movement of cargo across the Australian border is reported to Customs and Border Protection in the past 100 years.
Customs and Border Protection controls the exportation of goods from Australia to places overseas and the ICS ensures that exporters or their agents provide correct information about cargo, while minimising delays in the clearance of goods for export. Unless specified, goods may not be loaded onto a ship or aircraft for export unless they have been entered into the ICS.
There are four main clients that use the ICS:
- Carriers, such as shipping lines and airlines;
- Cargo handlers, like stevedores, depot and warehouse operators and air cargo terminal operators;
- Service providers, including brokers, cargo reporters and freight forwarders;
- Owners, that is, importers and exporters; and
- Government agencies including Defence, Taxation and Bureau of Statistics.
All clients intending to communicate electronically with Customs and Border Protection through the ICS will need to register, install specifically developed software and purchase one or more digital certificates. The digital certificate allows the user to securely communicate with Customs and Border Protection and acts as both a signature of authenticity and an entry key.
Once registered to use the ICS, there are many different functions you can perform such as registering new clients, obtaining status of your consignment in real time, and obtaining the latest ICS information such as technical upgrades and changes. Most commonly, you will use the ICS to lodge your export declaration.
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