Importers Institute is unhappy with MAF’s new rule which will see MAF detaining and inspecting thousands of containers to physically inspect all six sides of the boxes. The inspection also comes with a bill of $100 per hour plus related fees.
The Institute’s press release says MAF’ s latest move will lead to backlog at hub ports such as Tauranga and Napier, and that MAF has no capacity to handle the inspection of thousands of containers that are low risk.
The Institute is also expecting an outcry from importers who will have to pay hefty fees to MAF and incur demurrage and container detention costs.
It predicts the collapse of the whole new regime and calls the move another example of an “over-reach blunder” by MAF.
Currently, importers send their declarations to Customs, who in turn passes a copy on to MAF. If the quarantine inspectors decide that they need more information about a container, based on the declared contents, exporter, importer, origin, etc., they place a 'hold' on the container and the importer needs to apply for a permit. If the container is deemed to pose a biosecurity risk, an inspection may follow. The vast majority of containers pose no risk and are released immediately.
The new system, called "the 12 hour rule", will work in the same way, except that if the importer fails to lodge his Customs clearance 12 hours before the ship's arrival in port, then the containers will be placed on hold, even if they are not flagged as being of interest. To get hold of their goods, importers will have to pay for an inspection at the rate of $100 per hour, plus fees.
“The obvious purpose of this is punitive, since the containers at issue are not considered to pose a biosecurity risk,” the Institute says.