Thursday, August 31 2006

Introduction of an Electronic AHECC

Dear {Firstname},

On 1st January, 2007 we will see the introduction of the Harmonized System 2007. This will result in changes to the classifications used by exporters, importers and their agents.

You may be aware that while the Australian Customs Service (ACS) produces the Harmonized Tariff for imports, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) produces the Australian Harmonized Export Commodity Classification (AHECC) and this will require considerable revision as a result of the implementation of the Harmonized System 2007.

When Harmonized System 2002 was implemented in January 2002, the ABS released a hard copy of the AHECC to subscribers. Since then the ABS has issued replacement pages as a PDF that can be downloaded from the ABS website.

With the January 2007 changes the ABS is planning to only release the AHECC in electronic format. It is anticipated that this will be in the form of a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet will be printable in a readable format. Exporters, agents or statistical users requiring a hard copy of the AHECC will have to print their own copy.

The ACS will continue to produce a hard copy version of the Harmonized Tariff.

The ABS issued an information paper recently which was released on the ABS website in June. Please click here to view

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mf/5368.0.55.005?OpenDocument

The ACS has advised that they will soon issue a notice on this issue.

Thanks and regards,

Juana Mulherin
Executive Assistant

Australian Federation of International Forwarders Ltd (AFIF)
Suite 403, Level 3
152 Bunnerong Road
Eastgardens
NSW 2036
Tel: (61 2) 9314 3055
Fax: (61 2) 9314 3116