Australian Border Force steps in over potential asbestos importations (NNF 2016/092)

This week, several warrants were executed by the Australian Border Force (ABF) concerning recent detections of asbestos in imported Chinese building materials.

“The warrants, relating to suspected illegal imports of... products containing asbestos, involved Yuanda Australia,” said the ABF in their 20 July Media Release.

“The company has also been notified that all goods imported by the company and its affiliates will be held at the border until it is confirmed the goods have been tested... Yuanda Australia has been cooperative throughout this process and the ABF will continue to engage with the company.

“It is the responsibility of importers to ensure that their goods do not contain asbestos.”

With Australia being one of the few countries with a ban on asbestos imports, there have been an increased number of detections of imports containing asbestos in 2016/16 compared to 2015/14.

The ABF and Department of Immigration and Border Protection continue to liaise with the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA), who have presented informative and imperative briefings on the dangers of asbestos at CBFCA Regional and National Conferences.

The ABF stated, “Offences relating to asbestos can attract fines of up to $180,000 or three times the value of the goods, whichever is the greater. Companies can face fines up to $900,000.”

“The ABF is targeting importers that illegally import asbestos.”

To read the ABF 20 July Media Release in full, please click HERE.