AQIS Import Management System (AIMS) and the Integrated Cargo System (ICS)
ICS
The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (Customs) Integrated Cargo System (ICS) is the means that allows for the electronic lodgement of Formal Import Declarations (FIDs) by brokers and/or importers for imported goods.
The ICS allows brokers to pay FID Fees, Container Fees and AQIS Import Management System (AIMS) entry management and other service fees efficiently via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Brokers have the ability to pay multiple & variable amounts.
AIMS / ICS – Formal Import Declarations (FIDs)
All sea and air cargo entering Australia with a value in excess of the Customs low value threshold (currently AUD$1000) require a Formal Import Declaration (FID) to be lodged in the ICS by the broker or importer.
If cargo is targeted for AQIS intervention for quarantine or imported food, the FID will be referred across to AIMS. FIDs may also be referred to AIMS under the Broker Accreditation Scheme arrangements, or by non-tariff based profiles. FIDs that are in AIMS are called ‘AIMS Entries’ (or ‘Entries’) for all AQIS purposes.
AIMS / ICS – Self Assessed Clearance (SAC) Declarations
All sea and air cargo entering Australia with a value at or below the Customs low value threshold (currently AUD$1000) will generally require a Self Assessed Clearance (SAC) Declaration to be lodged in the ICS by the broker, importer, or Express Carriers.
SAC declarations identified as a quarantine concern are referred across to the AQIS SAC application. Depending on the results of the documentation assessment the declaration may be released directly from the SAC application, ordered for physical inspection or upgraded to AIMS.
NOTE: A document assessment fee will not be charged for the initial document assessment provided on SAC declarations (in the SAC application) unless additional documentation is required either for further assessment electronically or at an AQIS office.
Physical inspections on SAC declarations may be charged on a manual AIMS Entry. Once the physical inspection is complete the SAC declaration must be cleared or upgraded to AIMS if further action is required.
NOTE: Where a physical inspection of the goods is required for a single SAC declaration, AQIS may upgrade the SAC declaration to AIMS and charge inspection fees on the AIMS Entry.
Any SAC declarations within the SAC application that require more than the above mentioned inspections, i.e. fumigation treatment, will be upgraded to AIMS so that directions can be issued from the AIMS Entry. SAC Declarations will be referred to as AIMS Entries once upgraded into AIMS.
AIMS / ICS – FCX Containers (Multiple House Bills, Single Importer)
FCX containers are where a sea cargo container has all the contents consigned to one entity in Australia and where there are two or more consignments or house bills within the container.
The AQIS ICS Container fee applicable to FCX containers reported to the ICS equates to the FCL fee of $24.00 per container (see ICS FID and Container Fees below).
AIMS / Manual Entries
An AIMS Entry may also be lodged manually directly into AIMS for consignments such as personal effects or goods being temporarily imported (carnets).