EXPORTERS have warned they could face huge demurrage costs if ships are forced to wait hours for quarantine inspection as the government slashes biosecurity resources following the Senate's decision to block fee increases,
The Australian Financial Review reports.
The federal government told exporter groups yesterday that, as a cost-saving measure, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) would cancel overtime for quarantine inspectors who must sign off on overseas shipments.
This means that ships that are due to load after business hours would need to wait in dock overnight for quarantine approval, incurring demurrage fees for delaying shipping schedules.
Australian Livestock Exporters Council chief executive Lach MacKinnon said such delays would expose his members to significant extra costs and inconvenience.
His sector was disappointed that the Senate voted on Tuesday to overturn fee increases for AQIS certification and inspection services, as they had hoped to take up a government offer of funding for much-needed reforms - including $40 million offered in June and an extra $20 million proposed this week - to make these services more efficient.
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