Do you believe that the world is your oyster? You may be involved in selling goods to an Australian audience and have been successful in sourcing domestic products up until this point. However, you feel that demand is not as buoyant any more for these particular solutions and have started to look at overseas markets in order to start afresh. Yet you've never actually imported goods before, and you understand that you need to comply with various regulations to be successful. Where do you start with this process, however?
Ready for Shipment
If you have found a supplier who is willing to originate your shipment, then the first thing he or she will need to do is to book your products for transportation. Everything will need to be cleared at the port of origin before it may be loaded onto the vessel for its lengthy trip across the ocean. Full details will be supplied to the shipper, and this raft of information will need to be checked carefully as soon as the vessel arrives onshore.
Inbound
The government licenses certain ports around the coast to receive international freight, and work will commence before the ship appears on the horizon to make sure that it can be cleared as soon as possible. Officials will be on hand as soon as the ship moves into its berth, to inspect everything carefully and as efficiently as possible.
Looking Carefully
Customs officers will initially be concerned with safety and will be looking for particular threats. In some cases, they will book a shipment into quarantine, but assuming that your products pass this phase without issue, customs clearance service agents will take over. These agents will be responsible for the freight from its inspection point onward, and until you take possession.
Where's the Paperwork?
One of the most important documents is the original bill of lading, which is essentially the contract between the shipper and the owner of the goods. Usually, the materials cannot be dispatched if these documents are not in place.
The original bill is signed off at the port of departure and must be in place when it arrives in Australia. Typically, it will only be forwarded if all payments have been made in good time and the original owner is satisfied. In many cases, this document will be sent in advance under "express release" rules, and this can help expedite the entire process.
Pay Up
Customs clearance agents will also help ensure that the relevant taxes and duties are paid to the Australian government. These will be based on the value declared within the documentation and you may also be liable to pay GST on the value, transportation costs, insurance and taxes.
Course of Action
This can be a very lengthy process and something that you absolutely have to get right if you are to avoid delays. Always work with a qualified clearance agent to streamline the process.
Share12 September 2018
If you are chasing success, you often need the help of a consultant to get there. Consultants can help with everything from establishing your marketing strategy to guiding your HR team and much more. Hi, my name is Jenny, and while growing my business, I frequently got the help of consultants. I decided to create this blog to show people what is possible when you work with a consultant. When I'm not blogging, you will find me busily working, spending time with my kids, running, cuddling my dog or volunteering at the library. I hope this blog helps you. Get comfortable, start exploring, and if you find something you like, feel free to share it.