Alternate Billing Procedures for Imports
The AQIS Alternate Billing Procedures Form
An alternate billing facility is now available through the AQIS Import Management System (AIMS).
This facility allows the responsibility for payment of AQIS fees to be changed from the broker to the importer. This will enable brokers who do not have ongoing involvement with the clearance of a consignment to nominate the responsible importer and provide other details to assist with invoicing.
Where a broker requests that further payments on an Import Declaration be directed to the importer, the following arrangements will apply:
1. The decision to process a broker’s request to transfer billing arrangements from a broker to an importer can only be made by the relevant Entry Management Supervisor, within each region. In the event that the Entry Management Supervisor is not available, their immediate manager will be required to make the decision.
2. The broker will be responsible for the payment of all directions applied to an entry until the date that they supply AQIS with the billing details of the importer (as per criteria 4), and request AQIS to divert future directions on the entry to the importer.
3. The Entry Management Supervisor will only consider transferring billing arrangements to the importer under the following criteria:
- Where the consignment extends into Post Entry Animal or Plant Quarantine, or
- Where the consignment extends into other lengthy quarantine arrangements (such as large numbers of containers requiring inspection on one entry). This can be at the discretion of the Entry Management Supervisor. Entries pertaining to imported foods consignments will not be considered at this stage.
Note: The Broker will always be required to pay fees upfront for entry processing and any initial directions that can be pre-determined.
4. The broker will need to provide the following information to AQIS for the Entry Management Supervisor to be in a position to consider the process of transferring the billing arrangements to the importer:
Written confirmation to be completed by the importer (see AQIS Alternate Billing Procedures Form) of the following:
- The name and address of the importer and owner code (if it exists),
- The telephone, fax and e-mail address (where applicable) of the importer,
- A signed declaration from the importer confirming their willingness to accept any ongoing charges that may arise when an entry goes into an extended period of quarantine.
The AQIS Alternate Billing Procedures Form: 
Word [47kb] 
PDF [19kb]
For further information please contact the Entry Management supervisor in your region.