FAQs related to Importing Genetically Modified Organisms
These words indicate that your container requires one or more actions to be taken on the wharf. Once the action has been taken, MAF will issue a BACC allowing your container to move from the wharf. Contact your local MAF office with an Application for a BACC to confirm the transitional facility to which your container will go and the email address / fax number where they should send the BACC. You should have your Customs Client Reference number or ECI number on your application so MAF can look up your container.
If you have received this message in response to a Customs Import Entry, your container can be moved off the wharf and taken to a MAF-approved transitional facility, where it must be checked by an Accredited Person. This message replaces the BACC to remove a low-risk container from the wharf. You do not need to lodge an Application for a BACC with MAF. This message does not constitute final MAF clearance of the container. The Accredited Person who checks the container at the devanning facility must still file a container log sheet for the container and obtain final MAF clearance for the container.
If you have received this message in response to a Customs ECI report for a loaded container being moved under bond, your container can be moved off the wharf and taken to a MAF-approved transitional facility. It must be held unopened until the contents list and hard copy Quarantine Declaration, if available, are presented to MAF and a direction given regarding the container. The message replaces the BACC to remove the container from the wharf, but MAF must evaluate the internal contents and status of the container before the container is opened. This message does not constitute final clearance of the container.
If you have received this message in response to a shipping ECI report for an empty container, your container can be moved off the wharf and taken to a MAF-approved transitional facility, where it must be checked by an Accredited Person and/or subject to an equivalent system. This message replaces the BACC to remove a low-risk container from the wharf. It does not constitute final MAF clearance of the container.
If you are lodging data for an LCL container or FCL container being moved under bond using a dedicated ECI report, you should insert the words "MAF CONTAINER MOVEMENT REQUEST" in the Goods Description field for the container. The field "Quarantine Code" corresponds to the container cleanliness question of the Quarantine Declaration. If the answer to the cleanliness question is "Yes", insert "C" into the "Quarantine Code" field (or "B" if the container has also been fumigated). If the answer to the cleanliness question is "No", leave the field blank (or insert "F" if the container has been fumigated). If you do not have a Quarantine Declaration for the container, or if the declaration is not compliant, leave the field blank.
The field "Prohibited Packaging Indicator" corresponds to the prohibited packaging question of the Quarantine Declaration. If the answer to the prohibited packaging question on the declaration is "Yes", insert "Y" in this field. If the answer to the prohibited packaging question on the declaration is "No", or if you do not have a compliant Quarantine Declaration, insert "N" in this field. The Quarantine Declaration must be presented to MAF prior to the container being opened at the transitional facility, so that the questions about wood packaging can be evaluated.
If you are lodging data for containers on a shipping ECI report, note that shipping companies are only responsible for providing Quarantine Declarations for empty containers being imported. For containers on a shipping ECI report, in the "Quarantine Code" field, if the answer to the container cleanliness question of the Quarantine Declaration is "Y", insert "C" into the "Quarantine Code" field (or "B" if the container has also been fumigated). If the answer to the cleanliness question is "No", leave the field blank (or insert "F" if the container has been fumigated). If you do not have a Quarantine Declaration for the container, or the Quarantine Declaration is non-compliant, leave the field blank.
In the "Prohibited Packaging Indicator" field, where the answer shown to the packaging materials question on the QD is "Yes" insert "Y". Where the answer shown is "No", insert "N". If you do not have a Quarantine Declaration for the container, or the Quarantine Declaration is non-compliant, insert in this field "N" standing for "No".
MAF offices are open during standard working hours (8 am - 5 pm, Monday - Friday, excluding public holidays) for BACC processing.
If you are an Accredited Person and have not completed a container log sheet, you should do so.
Alternatively, if you can not access the website, you may fax a manual log sheet to MAF at 09 300 3205.
If you have received a message from Customs saying "MAF CLEARANCE GIVEN TO MOVE FROM WHARF TO AN ATF", you do not require a BACC to remove your container from the wharf. See question 6 for more details.
If you have received a different message from Customs and have not yet sent MAF an Application for a BACC, you should complete this application, including relevant documentation, and submit it to your local MAF office. You can fax the application and documentation to the office, or bring it to MAF in person during weekday office hours.
If you have sent MAF an Application for a BACC, you should either receive a BACC by email from MAF within 8 working hours, or a phone call from MAF requesting more information. If you have not heard from MAF within 8 working hours after submitting your application, please phone the MAF office to which you faxed your application.