Changes in this and forthcoming issues
Changes in this issue
International merchandise trade commodity classification update
From the July 2019 reference month, there will be amendments to statistical item codes across imports and exports, which support Australian legislation and act to align the Australian trade classifications with current World Customs Organisation advice. All changes, described below, are detailed in Appendices 6.1 and 6.2 of the International Merchandise Trade Australia: Concepts, Sources and Methods (cat. no. 5489.0) and the Australian Harmonized Export Commodity Classification (AHECC) (cat. no. 1233.0); both of which were updated on 25 June 2019.
In force 1 July 2019, are the following changes to Australian international merchandise trade commodity classifications:
1. Exports – Infant Milk Powder (Chapters 04 and 19)
The removal of the headings for infant milk powder in Chapter 04 brings the AHECC into alignment with advice issued by the World Customs Organisation which directs classification of infant milk powder to Chapter 19.
2. Imports – Fresh Cut Flowers (Chapter 06)
New codes to allow Individual identification of 15 new species which pose the highest biosecurity risk to Australia (based on quantity of imports and pest interceptions). This change will support the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources’ functions under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
3. Imports – Beer (Chapter 22)
In line with support for Australian craft brewers and distillers, announced in the 2018-19 Budget, the Customs Tariff Amendment (Craft Beer) Bill 2019 and Excise Tariff Amendment (Supporting Craft Brewers) Bill 2019 have recently been passed. These Acts, in combination with established international agreements, trigger amendments (increased detail) to the Customs Tariff Act 1995 and therefore to the Combined Australian Customs Tariff Nomenclature and Statistical Classification (Working Tariff) and ABS commodity statistical item classifications.
Changes in forthcoming issues
Annual Seasonal Re-analysis
In the August 2019 issue of this publication, the seasonally adjusted and trend estimates of goods and services on a balance of payments basis will be revised as a result of the annual seasonal re-analysis. This re-analysis reviews the seasonal and trading day factors in more detail than is possible in the monthly processing cycle and reassesses the appropriateness of any prior corrections.
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