Shippers of containerised plant products can now access the updated and freely available “Standards for Empty Shipping Container Inspection“ document which gives guidance on export-acceptable shipping containers.
Covering container inspection, assessment, cleaning, and repairs, the “Standards for Empty Shipping Container Inspection,” is in an easy-to-access and easy-to-follow digital booklet form that is illustrated with flowcharts, diagrams, and pictures of acceptable and unacceptable containers. It is a “live” work, which means that it will be updated over time.
Complementing the Department of Agriculture Water & the Environment’s (DAWE) Plant Export Operations Manual Volume, the new guide will help shippers and exporters get their containers inspection-ready.
Remember: empty boxes are inspected to ensure that the container will not alter the pest or disease status of goods during transit. The inspection supports the DAWE phytosanitary certification. Passing a container inspection avoids container-rejection, a consequent need for shippers to get a new box and it prevents new costs or delay being incurred!
The updated Standards have been produced by Shipping Australia, the DAWE, and Grain Trade Australia for the benefit of grain container packers and exporters, ship owners, container park operators, and anyone with an interest in containers, whether that’s clean boxes, food quality containers, general purpose boxes or scrap-cargo containers.
Access the newly-updated Standards from the Shipping Australia website!
Grain Trade Australia CEO Pat O’Shannassy said:
“The Australian grain supply chain has a reputation for delivering a clean and safe product across both the bulk and shipping container supply chains. This reputation will be protected and enhanced through industry Standards such as this document and I am grateful for the support from Shipping Australia and DAWE that enabled these Standards to be available.”
Shipping Australia CEO Melwyn Noronha said:
“This ‘one-stop shop’ Standard is a great achievement by industry and government working together. It provides all stakeholders in the container supply chain with the appropriate reference material to achieve compliance, which will reduce costs and delays.”
A spokesperson from The Department of Agriculture, Water & the Environment said:
“This document complements the department’s guide for certification of containers which carry Australian exports of grain and plant products. It will assist all stakeholders in the container supply chain to meet export requirements, reducing costs to the industry and delays in getting Australian produce to our export markets.’
Notes for journalists and editors:
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is part of the Australian Government. Its role is to protect Australia’s natural resources and help develop strong agricultural industries. It works with other parties to ensure that our land, water and heritage are well-managed, protected and productive. For today and into the future.
Find out more: https://www.awe.gov.au/
Shipping Australia is an industry association that represents Australia’s ocean shipping industries. We have 29 full members, which includes ocean shipping lines and shipping agents. We have over 40 corporate associate members, which generally provide services to the maritime industry. Australia imports and exports the equivalent of about 8 million twenty-foot ocean shipping containers a year. Our members handle the vast majority of these containers and a considerable volume of our dry bulk and vehicle import trades. Our members employ more than 3,000 Australians.
Find out more: www.shippingaustralia.com.au
Grain Trade Australia was formed in 1991 to formalise commodity trading standards, develop and publish the trade rules and standardise grain contracts across the Australian grain industry. GTA’s role today is to ensure the efficient facilitation of commercial activities across the grain supply chain. The Mission for GTA is to facilitate and promote trade by providing products, services and advocacy for the Australian value chain.
Find out more: https://www.graintrade.org.au/
