Australia Ics Terms Acronyms
Australia Ics Terms Acronyms
1. Acronym List
1.1 Cargo Specific Acronyms 3
1.2 Customs and Border Protection Acronyms (other acronym's in the cargo environment) 10
1.3 General Acronyms 15
1. Acronym List
1.1 Cargo Specific Acronyms
Acronym Terms represented Definition or Explanation
AAR Actual Arrival Report A report made to Customs and Border Protection under s64AA of the Customs Act 1901 that provides information
about the actual arrival of a ship or aircraft at an Australian airport or port.
ACCA Australian Customs Cargo Advice An advice of any changes or important issues to the cargo environment that Industry may need to be aware of.
ACR Air Cargo Report A report made to Customs and Border Protection under s64AAB of the Customs Act 1901 that provides arrival,
consignee and consignor details of all goods that are to be imported into, transhipped or transited through Australia.
This report is required for the reporting of all air cargo arriving in Australia.
ATD Authority To Deal An ATD is the permission given by Customs and Border Protection to deal with goods in accordance with information
provided on an import, warehouse, export or self-assessed declaration.
AWB Air Waybill A document given on behalf of an airline, providing details of the goods received for freight. It includes terms and
conditions of carriage and the condition of the goods at the time of the freight.
AWO Air Waybill Outturn A report made to Customs and Border Protection under s64ABAA of the Customs Act 1901 that provides information
about:
• The receipt of air cargo that has been discharged from an aircraft.
• The receipt of air cargo at a Customs and Border Protection place as a result of an underbond movement.
It identifies any surpluses or shortages in the cargo received.
B/B Break-Bulk Break Bulk: a consignment of cargo that is transported in a non-containerised manner.
BCP Business Continuity Plan In the cargo environment the BCP is a plan that in the event of an ICS outage, industry are able to continue normal
daily business with minimal disruption.
BSF Business Specific Format A converted message format used for the interchange of data between the ICS and EDI including other systems
external to the ICS.
CCF Customs Connect Facility The CCF is the communications gateway for all electronic business transactions to and from Customs and Border
Protection. Communications and processing functions are provided for interactive transactions over the Internet.
CCID Customs Client Identifier The unique identifier assigned to Customs and Border Protection clients who do not have an ABN or who elect not to
use their ABN.
CEF Container Examination Facility The CEFs are examination facilities housing large x-ray systems and other equipment to enable rapid physical
examination of selected consignments. They assist Customs and Border Protection to detect prohibited goods,
including illicit drugs, illegal firearms and other harmful goods as well as assisting in the verification of compliance with
import and export requirements.
CI Customs Interactive An internet based method of communicating with the Integrated Cargo System (ICS). CI may be accessed through the
Customs and Border Protection website, and allows real time web browser interaction with the ICS.
CLR Cargo List Report A Cargo List Report (CLR) is a report by a shipping company about certain types of cargo being discharged from a
vessel on an international voyage. The types reported on a CLR are:
• Shipping company owned empty containers
• Cabotage, and
• Export cargo bring repositioned prior to export
CMR Cargo Management Re-engineering CMR provided detailed planning for the construction of the a new cargo system and included extensive consultation
with the importing and exporting community. The project was aimed at modernising and integrating Customs cargo-
management systems. It also provided legislative and cargo reporting changes and updated cargo business
processes. This project resulted in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS).
CR Cargo Report A report made to Customs and Border Protection under s64AB of the Customs Act 1901 that provides freight,
consignee and consignor details of all goods that are to be imported into, transhipped or transited through Australia. A
Cargo Report is required for the reporting of all cargo (including mail) arriving in Australia.
CSA Cargo Status Advice CSA informs clients who are responsible for the movement, release or status of cargo. The ICS sends CSAs as
unsolicited messages. The sending of a CSA is dependant on status triggers and conditions.
CSI Common-use Signing Interface Before external clients can transact with the Integrated Cargo System (ICS), through the Customs Interactive facility,
they must install the Common-use Signing Interface (CSI) software. The CSI is an application for use by clients who
wish to sign and encrypt transactions with a government agency using digital certificates. Simply, the CSI software
links digital certificate (s) to the Customs Connect Facility (CCF) and allows clients to access the ICS quickly and
efficiently.
CTO Container Terminal Operator or Cargo Terminal Operator In the sea environment, a CTO is a container terminal operator, usually operating at a S15 place. In the air
environment, this is a cargo terminal operator, operating at S77G premises.
DCL Deconsolidation A movement reason on an underbond movement request. It indicates that the cargo is being moved for the purpose of
deconsolidation.
EDN Export Declaration Number A nine character alpha-numeric identifier issued by Customs and Border Protection for a successfully lodged export
declaration. The EDN has replaced the export clearance number (ECN).
EXAM Examination Advice A notice from Customs and Border Protection to an importer or broker that goods are subject to an examination.
FCL Full Container Load A container loaded with goods for one consignee only, whether transported directly to the consignee or through a
freight forwarder or an agent.
FCX Container Load A full container loaded with goods on multiple bills for one consignee.
FFI Freight Forwarder Indicator The FFI is used to indicate on a Cargo Report that lower level (i.e. House Bills) will be reported by another reporter.
FID Full Import Declaration A declaration to Customs and Border Protection required for the clearance of goods that have a value at or above the
entry threshold (currently A$1000).
FOB Free On Board A Customs and Border Protection valuation basis for determining Customs duty. The term defines the cost of the
goods including any cartage costs etc, incurred in placing goods on board a vessel at the place of export. The FOB
value is shown separately for each item being exported and will be the same as the value shown in the order and the
invoice. The FOB should cover:
• Cost of materials for manufacture
• Profit margin
• Cost of individual product packing and labelling and
• Printing if applicable
• Cost of export packing
• Carriage charges to port of shipman
• Insurance to cover movement to port
• Shipping and Forwarding Agent's fees
HAWB House Airway Bill An airway bill issued by a freight forwarder, providing details of the goods received for freight. It includes terms and
conditions of carriage.
HBOL House Bill of Lading The document that covers transport of goods by sea. Issued by the carrier to the consignor, it serves as a receipt for
the goods, as evidence of the contract of transport and as a document of title to the goods. Bills of Lading are fully
negotiable instruments. Transfer of the Bill of Lading transfers ownership of the goods from one party to another. See
also "Export Document flow".
HDR Header The header section of a Cargo Report displays detailed information about the whole consignment in ICS.
IAR Impending Arrival Report A report made to Customs and Border Protection that provides information about the expected arrival of a ship or
aircraft on a voyage from a place outside Australia. The IAR provides advance notification of the ship, aircraft’s ETA,
and where cargo (if any) will be discharged.
ICR Integrated Cargo Report A report made to Customs and Border Protection that enables cargo reporters to submit Cargo Reports and
Underbond Movement Requests simultaneously. This function is only available to EDI users.
ICS Integrated Cargo System The ICS is the only method of electronically reporting the legitimate movement of goods across Australia's borders.
The system features sophisticated risk management technology to help Customs and Border Protection officers target
high-risk cargo, and introduces new compliance assurance models with an emphasis on working with industry to
ensure accurate risk assessment and the swift movement of low risk freight.
LCL Less (than) Container Load A shipping container that holds the goods of more than one consignee, whether or not shipped on an FCL bases to a
freight forwarder or an agent. These containers must be deconsolidated under Customs and Border Protection control
LCT Luxury Car Tax An additional tax levied against motor vehicles with a value in excess of a threshold.
LPD Last Port of Departure The last port from which the ship/aircraft departed.
MAWB Master Airway Bill An airway bill used by an airline or a code share partner. If the master bill has been issued to a freight forwarder then
the freight forwarder will issue house airway bills for the goods they have contracted to freight.
MMN Main Manifest Number The nine alphanumeric character identifier assigned by Customs and Border Protection to an export main manifest.
N10 (Nature 10) Import Declaration or Entry for Home Consumption An import declaration is a communication to Customs and Border Protection under s71A of the Customs Act 1901
about goods whose value exceeds the entry threshold ($1000). All duties, taxes and charges must be paid.
N10/20 (Nature Combined Declaration A declaration of goods from a single consignment, some of which are being entered for home consumption and the
10/20) remainder going into a warehouse for storage.
N20 (Nature 20) Warehouse Declaration A warehouse declaration is a communication to Customs and Border Protection under s71DH of the Customs Act
1901 about goods to be entered into an s79 warehouse. Duty and taxes are not payable until the goods are
subsequently entered for home consumption.
N30 (Nature 30) Import Declaration or Entry for Home Consumption (for goods Where the goods have been warehoused, an import declaration is a communication to Customs and Border
in a warehouse) Protection under s71A of the Customs Act 1901 to enter the goods into home consumption and take them out of the
warehouse. All duties, taxes and charges must be paid.
S.15 Section 15 of the Customs Act 1901 s15 of the Customs Act 1901 allows the CEO of Customs and Border Protection to appoint ports, airports, wharves
and boarding stations, and the limits of those ports, airports and wharves. Such appointments are published in the
Gazette.
S.71E Section 71E of the Customs Act 1901 Where particular goods, or goods of a particular kind, are, or after their importation will be, subject to Customs control,
application may be made to Customs, by document or electronically, in accordance with this section, for permission to
move those goods, or goods of that kind, or to move them after their importation, to a place specified in the
application.
S.77G Section 77G of the Customs Act 1901 (Licensed depot) A premises authorised for the unpacking and short-term storage of goods subject to Customs and Border Protection
control. A premises authorised to consolidate prescribed warehouse goods for export.
S.79 Section 79 of the Customs Act 1901 (Licensed warehouse) A premises authorised for the long-term storage of goods subject to Customs and Border Protection control. Other
processes such as packaging or manufacturing goods may be carried out, subject to the terms of the warehouse
license.
SAC Self-Assessed Clearance (Declaration) An electronic import declaration to Customs and Border Protection required for the clearance of goods that have a
value at or below the entry threshold (currently A$1000).
SUBUBMOV Subject to Underbond Movement Cargo has not been acquitted at destination airport.
UBMR Underbond Movement Request These requests contain detailed information about the goods that are to be moved. A UBMR may be made to move
goods for one of the following reasons:
delivery to final destination
· deconsolidation (mandatory for consolidated cargo)
· other movement
· movement of ‘time-up’ goods to a s79 warehouse
· transhipment
· movement for AQIS purposes
A UBMR can be lodged in the ICS at any time after the related cargo report has been lodged, irrespective of where the
UBMR is in the sequence of underbond moves. This allows different cargo reporters to lodge UBMRs for different
stages in the movement of the same cargo. The ICS uses a ‘chaining’ process to ensure the cargo can be tracked.
UBMRs can be lodged in any order within a ‘chain’. Once a UBMR is validated and processed, its state will be
reflected in the status of the Cargo Report.
UPE Unaccompanied Personal Effects Personal belongings and household effects being freighted separately to the owner.
1.2 Customs and Border Protection Acronyms (other acronyms in the cargo environment)
Acronym Terms represented Definition or Explanation
ACN Australian Customs Notice An electronic advice of any changes or important issues that Industry may need to be aware of.
CAN Customs Authority Number The number given by Customs and Border Protection for the clearance of export goods.
CBFCA Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia The CBFCA is Australia’s leading association which represents member’s interests in international trade logistics and
supply chain management service provision. The CBFCA functions as a peak industry body and an influential voice
for Customs brokers, international freight forwarders, importers, exporters, manufacturers and other associated
groups concerned with international trade.
CRN Slot Charterer Reference Number This number is used for reporting on a main manifest for export by the slot charterer reporting party.
CTA Click Through Agreement The legal document that sets the conditions and conditions for communicating electronically with Customs and Border
Protection.
CVAL Customs Value The Customs Value of the goods (for duty purposes).
EFD Effective Duty Date The date used for selecting duty rates and for validating fields on the declaration.
ERES Early Report Early Status A Customs and Border Protection initiative that will give cargo reporters a greater certainty about the release of their
cargo. Reporters who report early will receive early notification of the status of their goods.
GST Goods and Services Tax The GST is a value added tax of currently 10% on most goods and services transactions in Australia.
NPD Notice to Produce Documents A notice from Customs and Border Protection to an importer or broker requiring the production of specified documents
to assist in the assessment and clearance of goods.
PDR Progressive Discharge Report A report made to Customs and Border Protection under s64ABAA of the Customs Act 1901 that provides information
about the discharge of containerised cargo from a ship. A Progressive Discharge Report (PDR) is a report made by a
CTO or stevedore of all containerized cargo discharged from a vessel on an international voyage. The discharge of
non-containerised sea cargo is reported on a Sea Cargo Outturn Report (SCO). Containerised cargo received and / or
unpacked at a s77G premises is also reported on an SCO. SCOs are not further discussed in this document. A PDR
must be lodged within three hours of commencement of the discharge of containerized cargo, and then updated by
adding lines at intervals of not more than three hours throughout the discharge. It is not necessary to make ‘nil
discharge’ reports during periods that no discharge is occurring. A PDR provides detail about:
· Date and time of the first container discharge
· Date and time of the last container discharge
· Container numbers
· Responsible party IDs.
SDG Software Developers Guide A document provided by Customs and Border Protection to assist software developers create or adapt EDI messaging
software to communicate with the Integrated Cargo System (ICS).
TA / TAN Tariff Advice (TA) / Tariff Advice Notice (TAN) TAN is the formal notification provided by Customs and Border Protection to the importer/broker advising our decision
regarding the classification of goods, in response to their request for a Tariff Advice (TA).
TAPIN Tariff and Precedents Information Network TAPIN is an on-line mainframe computer based system designed to assist Customs and Border Protection officers,
Customs brokers and the general importing community to obtain the correct rate of Customs duty payable on imported
goods. Each piece of advice is given a unique number that can be quoted on Customs and Border Protection
declarations to facilitate the clearing of imported goods.
TARCON Tariff Concession System TARCON is the Customs and Border Protection computer system that provides in-house support for the processing of
Tariff Concession Order applications.
UN/LOCODE United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations The UNLocode search function in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) can be used to find a United Nations Location
Code (UNLocode) or to search for details of a port. UNLocodes are used to identify a particular port in a country. In
the ICS, a UNLocode consists of five characters (e.g. AUSYD or NZAKL). These five characters consist of a two
character country code (e.g. AU=Australia, NZ=new Zealand) and then a three character port code (e.g. SYD=Sydney
AKL=Auckland).
WET Wine Equalisation Tax A tax collected by the Australian Taxation Office levied on wines.
ABN-DSC Australian Business Number – Digital Signature Certificate A public key infrastructure digital certificate that acts as an electronic identifier for businesses dealing electronically
with the government or with each other.
ABR Australian Business Register A register maintained by the Australian Taxation Office that records details for ABN holders.
AQIS Australian Quarantine Inspection Service The government agency responsible for the quarantine clearance of incoming passengers and cargo.
CAC Client Activity Centre An additional three-digit code sometimes appended to an ABN. Issued by the Australian Taxation Office it is used to
identify divisions in a business.
CITES Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens
of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
EXDOC Electronic Export Documentation System An Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) system that allows exporters to obtain AQIS permits and
Customs and Border Protection clearance in a single electronic transaction.
FTA Free Trade Agreement Free trade area is a designated group of countries that have agreed to eliminate tariffs, quotas and preferences on
most (if not all) goods and services traded between them.
PIA Permit Issuing Agency/Authority The agency responsible for granting permission for certain goods to be imported into or exported from Australia.
Permission may be granted subject to a range of conditions (eg. Country of destination, quantity etc).
Amber Lodged entry that has been nominated by the agent/importer so requiring Amber Line Processing due to uncertainty of particular details of the
entry.
Amber Line (processing) A process by which importers or brokers who are uncertain about some aspects of the declaration (tariff classification, valuation etc) can nominate
the import declaration for Customs and Border Protection assessment.
Arrival Report The pilot, Master, or owner of an aircraft or vessel has to report the arrival of the aircraft or vessel within a legislated timeframe.
Australian Customs Notice Formal notice to clients of Customs and Border Protection related information.
Berth Codes Berth codes are assigned by port authorities to identify the place where a vessel is berthed. Berth codes are not unique across different ports,
however they are unique within a particular port. Therefore a berth code must be used in conjunction with a port code, which is a five digit United
Nations Location Code (UNLocode). Combined, this provides Customs and Border Protection with the location of a vessel that is conducting cargo
(eg, load and/or discharge), passenger and/or other (eg, provisioning or bunkering) operations within a port.
Bill of Lading A document signed and delivered by the Master (or his agent) of a ship, on behalf of a ship operator, to the consignor of goods.
Branches (ICS) Imports: The establishment of Branches in the ICS assist in the management of import declarations. Branches are used to divide a business’s
import transactions into manageable units for the purposes of lodging, reporting and paying import declarations. Exports: Branches are used to
divide a business’s export transactions for confirming exporter purposes.
Break-Bulk Cargo In shipping, break bulk cargo or general cargo is a term that covers a great variety of goods that must be loaded individually, and not in intermodal
containers nor in bulk as with oil or grain. Ships that carry this sort of cargo are often called general cargo ships. The term break bulk derives from
the phrase breaking bulk — the extraction of a portion of the cargo of a ship or the beginning of the unloading process from the ship's holds. These
goods may be in shipping containers (bags, boxes, crates, drums, barrels).
Bulk Cargo Bulk cargo is commodity cargo that is transported unpackaged in large quantities. These cargos are usually dropped or poured, with a spout or
shovel bucket, as a liquid or as a mass of relatively small solids (e.g. grain, coal), into a bulk carrier ship's hold, railroad car, or tanker
truck/trailer/semi-trailer body. Bulk cargos are classified as liquid or dry.
Bureau A business that can send electronic messages to Customs and Border Protection on behalf of another client. A bureau can send reports to
Customs and Border Protection, provided appropriate authority to act on behalf of that client has been given.
Cabotage Report A report provided by the shipper to Customs and Border Protection which details any cabotage activity undertaken along the coast by the cargo
vessel on its international voyage to its Australian destination port.
Cancelled The authority to deal with the goods has been cancelled by Customs and Border Protection under s114C (5) of the Customs Act 1901. While a
status change advice message will be sent by the ICS to the exporter, Customs and Border Protection will also advise affected parties (exporter,
consolidator, CTO etc) directly. A cancelled authority to deal cannot be reinstated.
Cargo Clearance Permission for imported goods to be delivered into home consumption.
Cargo List Report (CLR) A Cargo List Report (CLR) is a report by a shipping company about certain types of cargo being discharged from a vessel on an international
voyage. The types reported on a CLR are:
· Shipping company owned empty containers
· Cabotage, and
· Export cargo being repositioned prior to export
Cargo manifest A listing of the goods comprising the cargo (freight) carried in a means of transport or in a transport-unit. The Cargo manifest which gives the
commercial particulars of the goods, such as transport document numbers, consignors, consignees, marks and numbers, number and kind of
packages, descriptions and quantities of the goods, may be used in place of the Cargo declaration.
Cargo Reconciliation Report This is the reconciliation between the Cargo Report and the Cargo Discharge Report.
Cargo Release Advice An electronic message sent from the ICS to the cargo reporter's system advising that their cargo can be released from Customs and Border
Protection Control.
Cargo Status Request A request by an authorised user to view the status of a consignment within the ICS.
Cargo Summary Report A report by a Cargo Reporter that identifies that another party will provide full details for a consignment.
Cargo Transaction The record of a series of events that describes cargo and its movement from consignor to consignee.
Cargo/Freight Refers to imported or exported goods that are carried subject to payment to a carrier.
Carnets Carnets are international Customs and Border Protection documents that enable the duty and GST-free temporary import of certain goods into
Australia without formal entry. They act as a security against Customs duty and other taxes should the terms of the carnet be infringed. In simple
terms, the carnet acts as a passport for the goods. (Includes ATA and CPD carnets)
Certificate Data Data electronically transmitted to the ICS from the Certification Authority which details the information on each digital certificate.
Certificate of Clearance The official clearance of a vessel or aircraft by Customs and Border Protection so that it may arrive into or depart from the country.
Certificate of Origin A certificate stating the country of origin of the goods. Depending on the importing country's requirements, this can be as simple as being issued by
the seller or the manufacturer. In most cases however, it is required to be issued by a Chamber of Commerce in the country of origin.
Charter Party A written contract between the owner of a vessel and the person desiring to employ the vessel (charterer); sets forth the terms of the arrangement
such as duration of agreement, freight rate and ports involved in the trip.
CLEAR Clear is a status in the ICS to advise that goods are available to be delivered. An Export Declaration has been validated and processed, and there
is an authority to deal with the goods described in the declaration. A CLEAR status does not mean that the goods have been manifested. An EDN
with this status is a valid CAN. The Status conditions for CLEAR reports are:
· EXPIRED – the goods have been reported on a submanifest or main manifest and are deemed by the ICS to have been exported. This means
that the authority to deal with the goods has expired.
· IDLE – where the goods have not been reported on a manifest, released from a warehouse or received at a CTO within 10 days of the intended
date of export, the ICS will show the EDN as IDLE.
Clearance The accomplishment of the Customs and Border Protection formalities necessary to allow goods to be exported, to enter home use or to be
replaced under another Customs and Border Protection procedure.
Client An organisation or individual who has direct or indirect contact with Customs and Border Protection. Clients act in a ‘client role’ when dealing with
Customs and Border Protection. A client can perform multiple roles.
Client Code Unique number identifying an importer, exporter or manufacturer used by Customs and Border Protection on Customs declarations.
Common-use Signing Interface Before external clients can transact with the Integrated Cargo System (ICS), through the Customs Interactive facility, they must install the Common-
use Signing Interface (CSI) software. The CSI is an application for use by clients who wish to sign and encrypt transactions with a government
agency using digital certificates. Simply, the CSI software links digital certificate(s) to the Customs Connect Facility (CCF) and allows clients to
access the ICS quickly and efficiently.
Conditions Any conditions applying to the application of the data element. For example, the country of origin is needed for import declarations but is not needed
for an export declaration.
Confirming Exporter An authorised export client, who is unable to fully report details (such as weight or value) of their goods to Customs and Border Protection at the
time of export. Confirming exporters are given authority to amend export declaration details within a set time after the export of the goods.
Consignee The person/company who is the ultimate recipient of the goods. Whether or not they paid for the goods.
Consignor The supplier of goods located outside Australia who has complied with a request from a person in Australia to send goods to that person.
Consolidated LCL container A consolidated LCL container is a container that arrives at the CEF with multiple LCL consignments within it.
Consolidation The aggregation of two or more consignments of cargo into one container or unitised load device.
Consolidation Sub-manifest Depot reports the Consolidation Sub Manifest before the cargo leaves the Depot.
Country of Origin Country in which the goods have been produced or manufactured, according to the criteria laid down for the purpose of application of the Customs
Tariff, or quantitative restrictions or of any other measure related to trade.
Crew’s Effects Items in everyday use and any other articles belonging to the crew, carried on board a means of transport, and which may be required to be
declared to Customs and Border Protection.
CTO Receival Notice CTO reports the receival of goods for export by the wharf/terminal within three hours (airport within one hour) of arriving at the CTO. If the goods
are not exported and the goods are removed from the CTO a CTO Removal Notice is lodged (no time frames specified in Legislation).
CTO Removal Notices CTO removal notices must be lodged by the party who lodged the original CTO receival notice whenever export consignments are removed from a
wharf or airport other than by an exporting vessel or aircraft. Industry users can only view and amend notices that they have created.
Customs Broker A person or corporation licensed by Customs and Border Protection to handle on behalf of importers the process of clearing goods through
Customs and Border Protection.
Customs Declaration Any statement or action, in any form prescribed or accepted by the Customs and Border Protection giving information or particulars required by the
Customs and Border Protection.
Customs Discharge Report Refers to the record relating to the cargo unload. The air and sea cargo discharge reports are distinctive.
Customs Duty A tax, duty or tariff levied at the time of import upon goods entering a country. Usually based on the value of the goods (ad valorem), on the physical
nature of the goods such as quantity or weight, or on a combination of the value and other factors.
Customs Information and Support Centre Principal point of contact for the public with any queries relating to Customs and Border Protection matters.
Customs Ship Register All ships operating in Australian waters are recorded in this register. International ships may also appear in the Lloyds ship register.
Customs Unique Identifier A sequential generated identifier assigned by the CCF to each Interchange transaction received.
Customs Warehousing Procedure Customs and Border Protection procedure under which imported goods are stored under Customs and Border Protection control in a designated
place without payment of import duties and taxes.
Dangerous goods Are substances that may be hazardous to people, property or the environment and may cause accidents with significant consequences. Dangerous
goods may be corrosive, flammable, explosive, oxidising or may be reactive with water.
Declaration of Origin An appropriate statement as to the origin of the goods made, in connection with their exportation, by the manufacturer, producer, supplier, exporter
or other competent person on the commercial invoice or any other document relating to the goods.
Deconsolidated LCL consignment A deconsolidated LCL consignment is an LCL consignment that arrives at the CEF after it has been unpacked from the container it was imported in.
Deconsolidation Point Place where loose or other non-hazardous cargo is ungrouped for delivery.
Delivery Advice A notification advice provided to the importer/broker from Customs and Border Protection advising that the Import Declaration has been finalised
and the goods can be delivered.
Demurrage A charge raised for detaining cargo, containers or trailers for a longer period than provided for in the tariff.
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Is the Federal Government’s transport security regulator and has responsibility for ensuring industry compliance with the Aviation Transport Security
Regional Development and Local Act and the Aviation Transport Security Regulations.
Government
Departure Reports A departure report must be lodged with Customs and Border Protection to obtain a certificate of clearance. Industry users can only view and amend
declarations that they created.
Depot A facility licensed under s77G of the Customs Act 1901, at which goods are stored prior to the release of cargo from Customs and Border
Protection control.
Depot Operator Cargo offloaded from ships or aircraft may be moved under Customs and Border Protection control to a Depot where it may be unpacked, held and
kept safely until movement to another premise for warehousing, discharged into home consumption, or re-exported. Depot operators are licensed
under s77G of the Customs Act 1901. Export cargo may be taken to a depot to be consolidated with other cargo or held until it is moved to the
vessel or aircraft for export. Cargo is not usually held in Depots for extended periods. Depots will receive from the ICS details of cargo being moved
to their establishment and they also need to submit Outturn Reports to acquit Underbond Movements to the Depot.
Depot release notices Depot release notices must be lodged when prescribed warehoused goods are taken from a depot to another depot for further consolidation, a port
or airport for export, or returned to the original warehouse. The movement of prescribed warehoused goods for export must be reported to Customs
and Border Protection at each stage of the export cycle (refer to s99 and s102A of the Customs Act 1901). If the export consignment released
under a warehouse release notice is to be returned to the warehouse (for example, the exportation has been cancelled), the goods must be
returned to their original warehouse and a warehouse return notice must be lodged.
Digital Certificate A digital certificate provides security for electronic transactions, and authenticates the identity of a person attempting to transmit an electronic
transaction. It provides evidence of the senders’ identity and confirmation that the document has not been altered or interfered with.
Digital Certificate Identifier An index or key which identifies the digital certificate information held in tables relative to this message.
Digital Signature A digital signature is an electronic rather than a written signature, which can be used to authenticate the identity of the sender of a message or of
the signer of a document.
Direct Entry Client Clients able to communicate with Customs and Border Protection through the Customs Connect Facility.
Directed Cargo The movement of goods under Customs and Border Protection Control to a place nominated by Customs and Border Protection or AQIS.
Documentary Import Declaration A documentary declaration of import information prepared by an importer or authorised broker that is input into the ICS by an authorised Customs
and Border Protection officer.
Drawback Drawback is the refunding of Customs and Border Protection duty paid on imported goods that were:
· exported in the same condition as they were imported, or
· subject to a process or treatment prior to exportation and then exported, or
· incorporated into other goods that were exported.
Drawback Claim An application to Customs and Border Protection under s168 of the Customs Act 1901 for the reimbursement (drawback) of Customs duty paid at
the time of importation on goods that are subsequently exported, subject to conditions.
Duty Drawback If goods which have been imported, and upon which Customs duty has been paid, are exported or have been used in the manufacture of goods
which have been exported, then the exporter may be entitled to a refund of the original import duty paid.
EDI reference files The EDI Reference Files provide import and export reference data, such as tariff information, community protection declaration questions,
exchange rates, Establishments, AHECC, Permit information and Berth Codes that are provided to EDI users to enable them to pre-validate data
and pre-calculate their Customs duty and tax liability. To ensure that the data is current, periodic updates to the reference files are available to EDI
users. A complete refresh of EDI Reference Data is also available. EDI users are able to obtain an entire current data set at any point in time.
Electronic Gateway An interface between two computer networks which may have various functions such as access controls and protocol conversions.
Embargo To embargo is to place a ban or restriction on items or process. It is also a term used by Customs and Border Protection to describe a suspension
of an 'authority to deal'.
Establishment Code Unique identifier assigned to an approved/licensed Customs and Border Protection premise.
Establishment Identifier Used by the ICS to accurately identify the locations at which international cargo is handed, and to track the movement of cargo. The Establishment
Identifier is a unique alphanumeric reference used to link a particular business to a specific wharf, airport, depot or warehouse site.
Evidence Evidence may prove or disprove a particular point. Evidence is produced in court to assist in prosecution action. The burden of proof requires the
prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. There are different types of evidence:
· Direct: testimony of a witness
· Documentary: originals, copies, photographs
· Real: exhibits
· Opinion: given by an expert witness
Examination The definition of an examination is physical examination of the cargo by a Customs and Border Protection officer.
Examination of Goods Goods identical in description, quality and technical characteristics to those imported or exported for inward or outward processing.
Exempt Code A code used to report a line of export cargo on a manifest where the goods concerned are exempt from export entry lodgement requirements.
Expire (EDNs) The end result of the tally process used by Customs and Border Protection to validate that all goods reported on an EDN have been exported.
Export Cargo Report Information submitted by the owner or agent of the cargo relating to goods departing from Australia.
Export Certificate A certificate issued by an Export Regulator to verify the eligibility of goods for a particular market.
Export Clearance Number A number previously issued by Customs and Border Protection to identify an export entry for each individual consignment of goods intended for
export in the EXIT system. See Export Declaration Number.
Export Declaration Exemption Code An export declaration exemption code is used to identify consignments that are exempt from export declaration requirements.
Export Declaration Number Formerly known as the export clearance number (ECN). It represents an authority to deal when exporting goods from Australia.
Export Declarations An export declaration is a statement made by the exporter or agent to Customs and Border Protection providing information concerning the
consignment of goods and the export transaction. Export declarations can be lodged up to six months in advance of the date the goods are being
exported. Export declarations consist of the header section and then a line section. Each export declaration has one header, but can have multiple
lines. Industry users can only view and amend declarations that they created.
Export Entry Advice Number The number Customs and Border Protection allocates for each export consignment. It is issued in the form of an EDN.
External Identifier Any external reference used to identify a Client. This could include ABN, ABN and CAC, Depot Licence Number, COSCODE or other Customs and
Border Protection or Industry Identifier, depending upon the requirement of the transaction.
Ex-Warehouse The term used to describe goods that have been removed from a warehouse.
Freight Forwarder A person or corporation who arranges transport of goods on behalf of either the seller or buyer. In many cases the freight forwarder will also
consolidate several small shipments into one larger one to take advantage of better freight rates. In most cases the freight forwarder will assume
the legal liabilities of acting as a carrier.
Freight of All Kinds Containerised consignments with multiple consigners and multiple consignees.
Frontline An industry participation scheme encouraging industry sectors to report suspicious activity relating to import/export transactions to Customs and
Border Protection, in order to assist in the detection of illegal activity.
Full Import Declaration This declaration is used for the importation of goods into Australia and includes Nature 10, 20, 30 and 20/30. It is entered into the ICS by
importers/brokers who use information sourced from commercial invoices to create the import declaration which must be supplied to Customs and
Border Protection prior to the goods being cleared.
Function A high level grouping of related processes within an organisation. Typical functions are importing, exporting, screening and so forth.
Gatekeeper This is the framework for the Commonwealth's implementation of PKI. It is proposed that any Internet communication with a government agency will
comply with the protocols implemented under Gatekeeper
Gatekeeper Strategy The Commonwealth Government’s strategy for online authentication using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). Established to provide a mechanism for
the implementation of PKI technology by agencies, enabling them to choose from a panel of accredited service providers.
Goods Declaration A statement made in the form prescribed by Customs and Border Protection, by which the persons interested indicate the Customs and Border
Protection procedure to be applied to the goods and furnish the particulars which the Customs and Border Protection require to be declared for the
application of that procedure.
Goods Delivered Indicator This indicator is set by the broker at the time of amending a finalised entry.
Goods Owner Party ID This is the Australian Business Number (ABN) or Customs Client Identifier (CCID) of the owner of the goods on an export declaration. It is required
if an agent is lodging the declaration on behalf of the owner. Otherwise the Reporting Party is taken to be the Owner.
Gross Weight The total weight of a shipment of goods, including their packaging such as crates, pallets etc.
Hazardous substances Can be a solid, liquid, gas, pure substance (one ingredient) or mixtures of substances. Hazardous substances can harm the health of people
exposed to the substance. A hazardous substance is a substance described in the Hazardous Substances Information System.
Idle Export Declaration Number This describes the situation where an Export Declaration Number has been issued for a consignment, and the Export has not been acquitted within
seven days of intended date of export.
Import and Export Duties and Taxes Customs duties and all other duties, taxes, fees or other charges which are collected on or in connection with the importation or exportation of
goods, but not including fees and charges which are limited in amount to the appropriate cost of services rendered.
Import Cargo Report A report where information submitted by the owner or agent of the cargo relating to goods arriving in Australia.
Import Declaration Type A term used to describe the type of Import Declaration, e.g. Nature 10, Nature 20, Nature 20/30, Nature 30 or a Self Assessed Clearance (SAC)
declaration.
Import Duty Customs duties and all other duties, fees, or other charges which are collected on or in connection with the importation of goods, but not including
fees and charges which are limited in amount to the approximate cost of services rendered.
Import/Export Permit Authorisation issued by a competent authority for the importation or exportation of goods subject to restriction.
Importation The act of bringing or causing any goods to be brought into a Customs and Border Protection territory.
Importer A party who makes, or on whose behalf a clearing agent or other authorised person makes, an import.
Infringement Notice Guidelines The Infringement Notice Scheme (INS) applies to a range of strict liability offences in Customs legislation where there is significant risk to the
community and revenue. Strict liability refers to an offence where fault does not have to be proved. Customs Regulatory Philosophy serves as the
framework within which all our regulatory activities are undertaken. These guidelines should be read in that context.
The Guidelines are a public document tabled in the Parliament of Australia. The Guidelines set out the relevant considerations that need to be
taken into account before issuing an infringement notice. This ensures that penalties are applied only after careful consideration of all the relevant
facts and on a case-by-case basis.
In-transit cargo Cargo remaining on, or re-stowed on, a ship or aircraft after arrival in Australia and destined for a place outside Australia.
Landed Cost The total cost which an importer pays to have goods delivered into their premises. This typically includes the costs of the goods, international
transport, insurance premium, port charges, Customs duties, delivery charges, bank charges etc.
Licensed Depot Cargo depot licensed by Customs and Border Protection to store underbond cargo.
Licensing And Permit System (LAPS) A Customs and Border Protection system used for licensing of warehouse and approved operators.
Location A geographical address where a consignment will exist at any point in time.
Main Manifests Every vessel or aircraft departing Australia is required to lodge a main manifest to Customs and Border Protection within three working days (not
including Sundays and holidays) of departure (refer to s119 of the Customs Act 1901). Industry users can only view and amend manifests that they
created. Customs Authority Numbers (CANs) will tally expire when they have either been reported on a sub manifest or a main manifest. The CTO
receival reporting does not affect the expiry of CANs.
Manifest A document issued by a shipper covering all cargo stated to be in a ship or aircraft for delivery at a particular port or airport.
Manifest line A manifest line corresponds to a bill of lading or an equivalent document that describes one specific sea cargo consignment.
Manifest Reference Number A reference number for exports, issued under the EXIT application.
Military Cargo Military Cargo comprises of items that are to be used for military operations exercises and training deployment and are for the use of, are owned by
and remain under the control of the Australian Defence Force.
Nett Weight The weight, or mass, of the goods themselves without any packaging.
Non Carnet Cargo Goods temporarily imported into Australia under S162 or s162A of the Customs Act 1901 that are not covered by an ATA, FIA/AIT or CPD carnet.
Outturns A sea cargo outturn (SCO) is a report made by a cargo terminal operator (CTO) or stevedore providing information about containerised and non-
containerised cargo that they have unloaded from a vessel. A CTO/stevedore or depot operator may engage a third party (bureau) however the
legal responsibility for making the report remains with the CTO/stevedore or depot operator, this must be reported electronically.
Outward Manifest An electronic report issued by a carrier covering all cargo stated to be on a ship or aircraft for export. It can also be known as a cargo report,
submanifest or main manifest.
Owner Includes any person being or holding himself or herself out to be the owner, importer, exporter consignee, agent or person possessed of, or
beneficially interested in, or having any control of, or power of disposition over the goods.
Packing List A document which details the contents, and often dimensions and weight, of each package or container.
Packings All articles and materials used, or to be used, in the state in which they are imported, to pack, protect, stow or separate goods, excluding packing
materials such as straw, paper, glass, wool, shavings etc, when imported in bulk. Containers and pallets are also excluded.
Personal Effects Indicator Refers to a data requirement on the Cargo Report that requires the party providing the cargo report to indicate whether the goods constitute
personal effects.
Pillage Items that have been stolen, pilfered or pillaged from that recorded on an original cargo document.
Point of Delivery Point at which cargo is released from Customs and Border Protection Control.
Port Code The UNLocode designating a place where craft crossing a border are required to arrive at or depart from. The UNLocodes comprise a two character
country code (AU for Australia) followed by a three character port code (SYD for Sydney).
Post Entry An amendment to a finalised entry that may result is additional duty or sales tax being collected by Customs and Border Protection.
Post Examination Post Examination refers to all physical examination, including use of detector dogs and x-ray, of mail articles under the PBS target.
Post Import Permission Scheme This Scheme, which came into effect on 12 January 2009, allows importers to seek permission to import certain goods after they have arrived in
Australia. The classes of goods to which the Scheme applies are specified in the Customs Regulations 1926. The PIP Scheme can be applied, as
long as the goods were not concealed when they were imported.
Pre-defined report A report whose content and structure are predefined. That is, the content and other properties of the report are known and have been defined prior
the time of the request.
Prescribed Goods Regulations The warehouse operator must report electronically to Customs and Border Protection to ensure these details are correct and that an authority to
deal exists for those goods. The operator must also notify the report the next intended destination of the goods. If prescribed goods are released
from the warehouse for export and for some reason returned to the warehouse, the warehouse operator must notify Customs and Border Protection
electronically that the goods have been returned.
Prescribed Place for Export A place prescribed under Regulation 23 of the Customs Regulations 1926 for the reception or manufacture of goods for export.
Preservation Ensuring that the goods are not defaced, damaged or destroyed but maintained in the original condition in which they were found.
Profile Flags A limited list of parameters for evaluating the risk of a cargo transaction made available to importers, exporters and cargo handlers.
Prohibited Goods Prohibited Goods are those goods that are cannot be imported or exported by law without a permit.
Quarantine Quarantine controls seek to preserve Australia's freedom from many of the world's worst diseases (human, animal, and plant) and pests (animal
and plants). Thus, consideration of Federal quarantine legislation is also a significant component of Customs and Border Protection officers' duties.
Reference files Files containing client and system information which is accessed by many applications. This may include lists of established generic information
such as tariff codes, port codes, country codes, exchange rates etc, which are commonly used in the reporting of cargo.
Reference table Lists of established, generic information, such as tariff codes, port codes, country codes, exchange rates, which is commonly used in reporting of
cargo.
Refund Under certain circumstances governed by legislation, duty that has been paid on a particular good is returned to the payer.
Release Action taken by Customs and Border Protection to permit goods undergoing clearance to be placed at the disposal of the persons concerned.
Reportable Documents Indicator An indicator on a cargo report used for consignments which meet the description of reportable document, which are document that consist entirely
of documents of low commercial value.
Reporting (i) Refers to the act of an Authorised User (Industry) providing information on an export cargo movement activity to Customs and Border Protection.
Reporting Party The Reporting Party is determined from the Message Owner and as such may not be the Party that actually reported the message. The Reporting
Party is the actual Party responsible for a message.
Reporting Party ID This is the Australian Business Number (ABN) or Customs Client Identifier (CCID) of the party communicating a report to Customs and Border
Protection in the ICS.
Request for Cargo Release RCR – a request for cargo release identifies cargo that an accredited client requires to be released. The RCR can be reported interactively via the
Internet or by EDI. ALL cargo reported within an RCR must arrive on the same conveyance and be discharged.
Responsible Party ID This the Australian Business Number (ABN) or Customs Client Identifier (CCID) of the party legally responsible for the content and timeliness of a
document lodged in the ICS.
Revoked The authority to deal with the goods has been revoked by Customs and Border Protection under s116 (1) of the Customs Act 1901. This status is
applied automatically by the ICS when the goods have not been exported within 30 days of the intended date of export. A revoked authority to deal
cannot be reinstated – the exporter must withdraw the EDN within seven days after it is revoked as required by section 116 of the Act.
Rules of Origin Specific provisions, developed from principles established by national legislation or international agreements applied by a country to determine the
origin of goods.
Sea Cargo Outturn Reports A Sea Cargo Outturn (SCO) is used to report details of bulk and break bulk sea cargo that has arrived in Australia and has been discharged from a
vessel. An SCO is also used to report details of all sea cargo that has moved underbond to a section s77G premises. The discharge of
containerised cargo is reported to Customs and Border Protection on a Progressive Discharge Report (PDR).
Sea Cargo Reports A Sea Cargo Report (SCR) is a report of all cargo that a cargo reporter has arranged to be carried to, or through, Australia. This means that in
addition to reporting cargo that is to be discharged in Australia, transit cargo (cargo not being discharged in Australia) must also be reported on an
SCR. An SCR is made by the cargo reporter who arranged the transport of the cargo to Australia. An SCR must be lodged with Customs and
Border Protection not less than 48 hours prior to the arrival of the carrying vessel at its first Australian port. Shorter reporting times may be
prescribed in the Customs Regulations 1926 for voyages of less than 48 hours’ duration.
Section 162 Section 162 of the Customs Act 1901 (the Act) provides that where certain goods are imported and the importer intends to export those goods, the
Collector may grant the importer permission to take delivery of those goods upon giving a security or undertaking for the payment of duty, goods
and services tax (GST) and/or luxury car tax (LCT) payable on those goods.
Seizure Physical taking into possession of goods now owned by the Crown as a result of forfeiture, or goods that an authorised person believes on
reasonable grounds to be forfeited goods.
Short Landed A line of cargo discharged and outturned where the actual content is found to be less than the content reported as loaded.
Slot Charterer A slot charterer is a shipping company that hires some space on a shipping vessel for their cargo. They are responsible for getting clearances for
their cargo but are not responsible for obtaining Port and vessel clearances, payment of fees and levies etc.
Smuggling Customs and Border Protection offence consisting in the movement of goods across a Customs and Border Protection frontier in any clandestine
manner, thereby evading Customs and Border Protection control.
Stakeholder A person who has an interest in an existing or new information system. A stakeholder is someone involved in the development of a system, in the
use of a system or someone who has authority over the parts of the organisation affected by the system.
Stevedore An organisation/company that is responsible for the loading and unloading of ships on behalf of shipping companies.
Store and Forward Basis for electronic data interchange – communication formats in this group may include; EDI, e-mail, and file transfer.
Stores Goods intended for consumption by the passengers and the crew on board vessels, aircraft or trains whether or not sold; Goods necessary for the
operation and maintenance of vessels, aircraft or trains, including fuel, lubricants but excluding spare parts and equipment; and Goods for sale to
the passengers and the crew of vessels and aircraft with a view to being landed.
Sub Manifests Sub Manifests Slot sub manifests (sea cargo only) are used by slot charterers to report the goods that they are responsible for to the carrier of a
vessel (ie, when a shipping company leases space on a vessel to different reporting parties). Slot sub manifests can be lodged after the goods have
departed, but they must be lodged prior to the main manifest. Industry users can only view and amend sub manifests that they created.
Consolidation sub manifests must be submitted to Customs and Border Protection when multiple consignments are to be consolidated. The
Integrated Cargo System (ICS) will then provide a Consolidation Reference Number (CRN).
Surplus A line of cargo discharged and outturned where the actual content is found to be more than the content reported as loaded. This may be either
surplus packages or an entire surplus consignment.
Surplus Cargo Goods that are landed but are not identified in a manifest or AWB.
Tally Also referred to as a 'count'. Describes the purpose relating the maintenance of a 'running tally' of the number of packages/containers reported as
exported on a Cargo Report and comparing this with the number of packages/containers declared for export on an EDN.
Tariff Classification of Goods Determination of the tariff subheading in a tariff nomenclature under which particular goods should be classified.
Tariff Description Description of an article or product in accordance with the terminology used in the tariff nomenclature.
Tariff Export Concession Scheme This scheme allows importation without payment of duty or sales tax when the goods are intended for export. It replaces the previous ByLaw for
Export.
Temporary Import A term used to describe the importation into Australia of goods that are intended to be re-exported again within an approved time.
Temporary Storage of Goods Storing of goods under Customs and Border Protection control in premises and enclosed or unenclosed spaces specified by the Customs and
Border Protection (temporary stores) pending lodgement of the Goods declaration.
Terminal A place where cargo is loaded for exportation or unloaded for importation.
Transhipment Cargo destined for a place outside Australia that is discharged at an Australian port for loading onto another ship or aircraft for export.
Transhipment Number A transhipment number generated for shipments that have been identified as having an overseas destination, and therefore, only in transit through
Australia.
Transit Cargo Cargo destined for a place outside Australia that remains on, or is re-stowed on, a ship or aircraft after arrival in Australia.
Underbond The movement of cargo which is subject to Customs and Border Protection control.
Underbond goods Goods on which excise or Customs duty is payable but has not been paid.
Unique Consignment Reference Number A unique reference of a consignment used for identification purposes in documents and messages exchanged between parties in international
trade.
Voided Voided is the term traditionally used for Tariff Advices that have been revoked. In recent times, it was considered that “voided” may be an unclear
term to use and “cancelled” was used in its place in some documents. Voided, cancelled and revoked all refer to the same processes of cancelling
a tariff advice so that it may not be used.
Warehouse A place licensed under s79 of the Customs Act 1901. A warehouse is used for long term storage of goods (including packaging, processing or
trading) under Customs and Border Protection control until such time as they are required to be entered for home consumption on a N30 import
declaration.
Warehouse Establishment ID The identifier issued by Customs and Border Protection to an approved/licensed premises for loading/unloading/storage of goods under Customs
and Border Protection control until clearance is issued.
Withdrawn A term where an Export Declaration has been successfully withdrawn by the exporter (or agent) before the goods have been exported, consistent
with Section 119A of the Customs Act 1901. Section 119B of the Customs Act 1901 specifies that when an Export Declaration has been withdrawn,
there is no authority to deal with the goods and the status cannot be changed.
Workarounds A number of non-critical incidents exist in the ICS. Where necessary, Customs and Border Protection has developed a 'workaround' to ensure
cargo continues to flow smoothly. The following documents outline the workarounds that will impact the reporting and declaring of import cargo
through the ICS.