Please be advised that we are experiencing an unusual number of our Oceania-bound FAK shipments being held for inspection in the United States.
These checks are part of a tri-nation effort to ensure the security of imports into Australia and New Zealand, specifically combatting illicit goods from entering. We understand this scenario is not unique to our operations, as other consolidators are experiencing similar challenges.
Our US team has been in constant communication with local customs, however, despite concerted efforts, including discussions with inspectors and filing official grievances, the reality remains that our influence on this process is limited.
Here’s what we know:
- The governments of Australia, New Zealand, and the USA are collaborating closely to mitigate the entry of illicit goods into Australia and New Zealand. This is a collective effort, not solely an initiative of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
- There are indeed cases emerging of illegal import attempts into these regions—a quick online search can validate this.
- Regrettably, the US CBP does not provide a list of shippers or commodities to avoid, which could otherwise help reduce the likelihood of inspections.
- The existing examination infrastructure in the USA is currently overburdened, leading to delays. The process can extend beyond a month once a container is marked for examination.
- Freight of All Kinds (FAK) containers are deemed higher risk than Full Container Loads (FCL), inherently attracting more scrutiny.
