Please find more information about this topic via the https://www.agriculture.gov.au/website where this was originally published.
Who does this notice affect?
All Biosecurity Industry Participants who may require Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry regulatory services between the department’s shut down period.
Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) wish to advise that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) has issued Import Industry Advice Notice 254-2022 to advise of the departments December 2022 / January 2023 Holiday Shut Down Operating Hours
What has changed?
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Canberra Office will close from COB Friday 23 December 2022 and will re-open at the commencement of business on Tuesday 3 January 2023.
Further information
The Canberra switchboard will be closed from COB Friday 23 December 2022 until the commencement of business on Tuesday 3 January 2023. Switchboards for locations outside of Canberra will be operating on reduced hours during this period. The Department’s general inquiry line (1800 900 090) will not operate during the periods noted as ‘Closed’ in the table below. Regional offices are operating as per the table below. All online regulatory services and lodgement systems will be available for use over this period. However, processing will only occur by departmental staff during hours of operation specified below. All departmental services will resume at the commencement of business on Tuesday 3 January 2023.
Assessment Services Exports
Assessment Services Exports will be closed on the following days
Monday, 26 December and Tuesday, 27 December 2022
Monday, 2 January 2023.
Assessment Services Exports will be open on the following days
Wednesday, 28 December 2022 through until Friday, 30 December 2022.
Clients requiring Request For Permit (RFP) authorisations and/or certificate collections on the days where our offices are closed will be required to submit an overtime request to the Assessment Services Exports – Plant (NDH).
Clients submitting overtime requests are required to use the following email subject header:
Client Query – OT Application; <insert day, date, time> Client: <insert client name>
Overtime request emails for service on 24, 26 and 27 December 2022 (where our offices are closed), must be sent by 2pm (AEDT) on Thursday, 22 December 2022.
Overtime request emails for service on 2 January 2023 (where our offices are closed), must be sent by 2pm (AEDT) on Thursday, 29 December 2022.
If you have any questions regarding the above information please email Assessment Services Exports – Plant (NDH). Please refer to any other advice issued via the department’s website to specific services. Unless otherwise specified, contact details for the department and regional offices can be found at: Contact us Overtime fees (when applicable) will be charged in accordance with the department’s charging guidelines, which can be found on the department’s website. Please call the department’s general inquiry line 1800 900 090 if further information is required. If you identify something of concern that may have entered Australia with imported goods report it to See Secure Report on 1800 798 636 or complete the online form. For urgent inquiries, please contact 1800 798 636. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry staff would like to take this opportunity to wish all our stakeholders the very best for the coming holiday period. We thank you for your cooperation throughout this year and look forward to continuing to work together to protect Australia's strong biosecurity status in 2023. To ensure you remain updated on these changes, we recommend registering to receive BICON alerts and Import Industry Advice Notices.