@amber-eyed-girl wrote:
Rope, if written in the description without any further detail, could flag the parcel and be deemed insufficient information.
hope it works out OK.
If it does turn out to be legit... ironically, instead of the problem being caused by insufficient description, it may prove to have been caused by too much description. I'm betting 'dog toys' probably would not interest AQIS at all, whereas 'rope dog toys' probably would.
I just took a look at the AQIS site and found this; http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/import/plant-products/information-about-importing-all-othe...
Fibre articles
Some plant fibres are so highly processed they do not require an import permit. To help you find out if your fibre is highly processed, refer to the Import Conditions database (ICON) case for Plant fibres-highly refined and processed.
Plant fibres that are not highly processed, but where the plants they are made from are a low quarantine risk - these too, will not need an import permit. However, you should use the ICON to search for each plant material used, to see what the import conditions are.
When entering the term 'rope' into the ICON database, it returns with 44 hits >> http://apps.daff.gov.au/icon32/asp/ex_casecontent.asp?intNodeId=8963272&intCommodityId=27794&Types=n...
Without looking through all, but just from looking at the second hit, I am left with little doubt that AQIS would want to inspect rope products if their composition was not included in the description on the goods manifest/import declaration...
Commodity: Banana Fibre Articles
Scientific name: Musa spp.
Condition C6920
These conditions apply to products made from Musa spp. leaf and stem such as furniture and rope.
Non-Commercial
1. For small items in personal consignments refer to ICON case ‘Articles containing seed or dried plant material ’.
Commodity: Articles containing seed or dried plant material
Condition C19148
These conditions apply when unidentified seeds or dried plant matter are imported as an integral part of an article that is not for human or animal consumption, not for growing, and not for other agricultural use the conditions.
This case does not include seed contaminants on items such as (but not exclusively) clothing or shoes, bedding, hides and cultural items.
Non-Commercial
1. An Import Permit is not required.
2. Each consignment must be inspected to ensure that it is thoroughly dried, free from live insects, or loose or damaged quarantine risk material.
3. Each consignment will require mandatory gamma irradiation treatment (T9651) or return to sender/re-export, at the expense of the importer or consignee, or destruction.
4. Alternatively, goods may be sent for identification at the importer/consignee’s expense.
As for AQIS inspection fees... http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/import/general-info/fees-charges-import/import-clearance
Goods Inspection;
| In-office—per officer—¼ hour | ¼ hour | $40.00 |
| Out-office—per officer—1st ½ hour | ½ hour | $90.00 |
| Out-office—per officer—additional ¼ hour | ¼ hour | $45.00 |
| Officer service for 1 or more working days | day | $900.00 |
Pandora, I hope it's only a scam... but there's enough evidence to suggest it might just be for real. That said, do not follow any links from that email, & definitely don't give c/card details until you've established it is 100% legit, even then I'd be asking if they had a Paypal option. Get that reference number from Aramex, and call dept of Ag with it. Aramex won't hesitate to give it to you if it's on the up & up as it means they'll get paid.
Good luck.
