HELPFUL INFORMATION

Resources

AIMA members appreciate moving internationally can be a daunting challenge, which is why we have prepared a carefully curated selection of current key independent and authoritative resources which Australian consumers can reference to learn more about the international moving industry.

Australian Border Force

The ABF is Australia’s frontline border law enforcement agency and customs service. It is an operationally independent body within the Department of Home Affairs.

All AIMA members are licenced to facilitate the customs clearance of used personal effects under the supervision and direction of the ABF.

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Australian Department of Agriculture & Water Resources

Australia’s biosecurity risk management and mitigation is administered and enforced by DAWR. All AIMA members are licenced and accredited with DAWR as High Volume Specialist Operators (HVSO) with Approved Arrangement (AA) sites where imported personal effects can be safely assessed by Biosecurity Inspection officers

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Australian Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement – B534

Unaccompanied Personal Effects (UPEs) include your household & personal items that you are importing into Australia but that arrive separately to you. An Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement, rather than an Import Declaration, is generally used to clear UPEs from customs control.

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AIMA Conditions of Contract

All AIMA members abide by the same general conditions of contract. This document should be presented as an attachment and form part of any international removal service quotation offered by an AIMA member.

The AIMA Conditions of Contract also act as the AIMA Rules Tariff which has been filed with the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC).

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AIMA Dispute arbitration

AIMA members are bound by a consumer dispute arbitration process administered by AFRA (Australian Furniture Removers Association).

Refer to this resource if you have a dispute with an AIMA member and wish to have the matter independently reviewed & arbitrated.

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FIDI GLOBAL Alliance

FIDI is is the largest global alliance of professional international moving companies. Most AIMA members are also affiliated members of FIDI and must comply with FIDI – FAIM quality assurance standard which is audited globally by Ernst & Young.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are all personal effects shipments into Australia subject to mandatory quarantine inspection?

Yes – Australia is in the fortunate situation of being one of the few countries relatively free of common pests and diseases found in other countries. For this reason, the Australian Government has mandated that all unaccompanied shipments of used personal effects, motor vehicles and vessels be screened and physically inspected at approved and licenced unpacking depots by Department of Agriculture and Water Resources inspection officers.

Why is there a fee for the mandatory quarantine inspection?

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources will only permit the unpacking of imported personal effects to occur within the confines of specially licenced and approved warehouses with adequate contamination containment measures, trained and accredited warehouse staff and the required electronic interface reporting systems. The fees for quarantine inspection, clearance and attendance charged by AIMA members cover the cost of annual depot licencing, use of bonded warehouse space, attendance and inspection fees for DAWR inspection officers and required interface software licencing.

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