Restrictions by Australia Post

[Lynn Otto]

To everyone

Below is a copy of an email we received from Peter at Pro Cal Trading, I have put it here to do as Pete asks and get the information out to as many as possible.

"Subject: New Import Restrictions


Friends,
In case you are not already aware, there are draconion new import/export restictions imposed on the shooters of Australia. Earlier this month Australia Post had decided to place a ban on the passage of International mail both into and out of Australia if the contents included Firearms or Firearm components. Initially we had only anecdotal evidence in the form of verbal communication with friends/associates in Australian Customs who had this dropped in their lap by Aust Post. Now, however, I have hard copy in the form of copies of faxes sent by AP to their Post Offices around the country. On Jan 11 the first such fax mentioned (among other stuff like knives etc) only FIREARMS. I took heart - silly me! On Jan 13 (Friday the 13th) the next directive to PO staff reads ....'firearms (including firearm components)' ... Now the next bit is that I have been advised by Customs that AP has sought a list of regular importers of such goods - indicating that they may actually alert us to the new rules directly (nothing recieved as yet). Best to mention at this point that these directives stipulate that there are no changes to domestic carriage (for how long??). These directives announce "Effective immediately", but in fact back-date to either Jan !st or Jan 6th. Also announced was that items in transit that arrive before end of Jan would be treated on a case by case basis, but from Feb 1st all incoming parcels (of this nature) would be returned to sender (or destroyed??) Another point - for which I only have anecdotal evidence is that "COMPONENTS" may extend to the likes of brass, bullets and jackets.
The urgent thing is to put the brakes on anything you may have on order from Overseas!! I have already advised most of my suppliers - hopefully they will have the nous to apply my comments to all Aussie orders.
Meantime in order to keep my business alive I have begun to look at alternatives. We should all remember that the US based 'Courier' companies like UPS, FedEx, DHL etc pulled the pin on handling firearms and componentry some years ago. This leaves only the major commercial shippers; next problem - this method is very costly and is only suited to high dollar value consignments. In my view this can only be made to work if there is some sort of freight consolidation (Early days and I am awaiting costings). My guess is that anything under US$20,000 is going to be prohibitive. This means that to keep a regular (say monthly) flow of goods coming into Aust there will need to be a high level of co-operation between dealers and shooters to make it all happen. Despite this, there will be the inevitable cost increases and delays. Can anyone come up with a better idea?
I, for one, am not going to take this 'laying down' and will continue to import from the US. Only catch is that I would probably be limited to 2 or 3 monthly shipments in the short term. I really need you guys to get out there and talk about it (dealers, gunsmiths, shooters - all of you) and let me know if you want me to get something happening for our target shooting fraternity (dealers/gunsmiths may loose a bit of margin, shooters will certainly pay a little more - but at least we will keep it happening)
As I can only send this to those in my 'address book' would all recipients please 'on-forward' as they see fit.

Pete"

Alan, if you don't think it appropriate to have on the forum, please delete, but as many of our members have permits to bring in their own gear I thought they would want to know.

[bully_eye]

Any word on reloading tools etc. Was just about to sling an order over to Sinclairs for a few bits and pieces.

Michael

[Lynn Otto]

Michael

There was no mention of this but we have discussed it as we are in the same boat as you at the moment. Our thoughts were that if they came in marked as machine tools or similar, it shouldn't be a problem as this stuff is not any part of an actual firearm. It would be worth talking to the supplier about how the items are described on the customs paperwork.

[bully_eye]

I don't think Sinclairs marked it anything to do with firearms last time but it is worth mentioning when ordering. Thanks for posting this Lynn.

Michael

[Guest]

To All,

It's been almost a week since the last posting on this subject, are we still trying to establish the truth or does'nt anyone really care.

We have TonyZ refuting what Peter from Pro Cal said, so the score is one all.

C'mon Peter and Tony lets see some proof in writing then I for one will take it seriously otherwise I will treat it as just another scare mongering tactic.

Barry Davies

[bully_eye]

Read the same thing on the SSAA website- you can go there and read it for yourself- and was told the same by the gunsmith building my new rifle. I know it can be like Chinese whispers and rumours spread like wildfire, but where there is smoke there is usually a fire. Why doesn't everyone interested or concerned do some checking for themselves rather than waiting to be spoon fed.

Michael

[Tony Z]

edited 19/4/06

[bully_eye]

I think that's a good way to go about it Tony. In fact if we are concerned we all should start making enquiries to relevant 'authorities'. One thing I can say is that if the talk is true then if we do NOTHING then we will partly have ourselves to blame.

Michael

[Guest]

To All,

Re Postal Regulations.

Go To Google, enter "National Firearms Trafficking Policy Agreement" and read all about It.

It would appear that this is not comming from Aust Post in the first instant.

Barry Davies

[Tony Z]

Dedited 19/4/06

[RDavies]

Now this has been out for a while. What is the latest news? If something is sent in the mail ,how can we pick it up from customs? I suppose if it is sent from U.S ,it will arrive in Sydney/Brisbane or Melbourne first. I,m told they will destroy anything they catch. Is this still true?
What loop holes /solutions have been found yet

[bjld]

International Mailing of Firearms, Firearms Parts and Weapons Prohibited

Australia Post has announced a further tightening of prohibitions on the use of the international mail service for the carriage of firearms, firearms parts, weapons and replicas thereof. The new restrictions, effective immediately, are consistent with similar prohibitions introduced by postal authorities in many other countries.

The restrictions are a reaction to an increase in the instances of delay to mail consignments and temporary closure of mail processing facilities caused when screening detects guns, ordinances or other potentially dangerous items in international mail.

Australia Post has advised postal administrations around the world that it will not accept articles containing firearms, firearm parts, or items of weaponry. A grace period has been allowed for the acceptance of items which were mailed to Australia before the implementation of the prohibition. This means that prohibited items arriving after 1 February 2006 by Air, or after 1 April 2006 by sea will not be accepted.

“Whilst this decision will no doubt inconvenience some individuals and industry groups who will need to use other modes of weapons transportation, our responsibility for staff safety and network security will always be first and foremost”, said Australia Post spokesperson, Matt Pollard.

Australia Post is also concerned with the increase in delays for all mail consignments in overseas ports when items of this nature are identified by the authorities of that country. These delays have the potential to affect the service for all mail users.

“Although some countries do accept the delivery of firearms and weapons through the mail, it is often necessary for these items (en route) to pass through the postal service of countries where these items are prohibited and must be confiscated by customs and reported to police or other authorities. This has increasingly caused serious delays to entire despatches of mail,” said Pollard.

There is an increasing international trend for mail articles to be security screened in transit. Given this, at least seven countries have implemented a total prohibition on all firearms and firearm parts, a further 76 countries have partial prohibitions in place, and almost all remaining countries have some form of restriction or conditions on acceptance.

“Canada, Austria, China, Denmark, Greece, Japan and Russia are examples of countries whose postal authorities have already prohibited the carriage of firearms and firearm parts in their networks. Australia Post is following a global trend to provide greater security to delivery networks and staff,” he said.

“The operational process and communication systems inherent in an international postal network do not allow for the distinction of specific items within bulk mail receptacles. This means that any firearm or firearm part can delay the entire mail stream and is a potential threat to the safety and security of the network.”

Firearms and firearm parts are able to be imported and exported via specialist dangerous goods handling companies, which have the necessary specialist expertise to manage the logistics from end-to-end safely.

The conditions under which Australia Post carries firearms, firearm parts and weaponry in the domestic mail remain unchanged however senders and addressees must comply with the relevant state and territory legislation when considering or using either the international or domestic mail service.

Definitions:

Australia Post defines Firearm and Firearm Parts to mean the contents of an article where:

1. the description of such contents appearing on the face of the article includes those words or other words which could reasonably be construed as meaning a firearm or a part thereof; or

2.it is otherwise detected during the course of post that the article contains a matter or thing which in Australia Post’s opinion is a firearm or firearm part not including a firearm part which in Australia Post’s opinion would not impact:

a) Australia Post’s operations; or

b) The safety or security of persons or property.

For the purpose of this definition Australia Post advises that the following items are deemed to be firearm parts and are therefore prohibited from International carriage by Australia Post:

* A gas piston, friction assembly, action bar, breech bolt or breech block
* A firearm barrel
* An assembled trigger mechanism
* A receiver
* Something, other than a complete firearm, that includes 1 or more of these items
* Any other matter or thing the carriage of which would contravene a law of a State or Territory or which is prohibited by Australia Post pursuant to the Australia Post Terms and Conditions including those items excluded from carriage in the Australia Post Dangerous and Prohibited Goods and Packaging Post Guide.

For further information, or for complete details regarding the prohibition, customers can download information www.auspost.com.au , or call 13 13 18.


http://www.auspost.com.au/BCP/0,1080,CH ... 19,00.html

[John T]

DEAR ALL,

AP has confirmed in an e-m to me that the prohibition extends to projectiles(copy sent to Alan).

The good news is BAX Global will deliver via air door-door at close to USPS surface price (so I'm told).

VBR
John T.

[/u]

[bjld]

G'day all
Since Australia Post started all this BS I've had reloading tools delivered as "measuring tools", scope bases and rings delivered as "machine tools" and scopes delivered as scopes. Brownells will ship with BAX Global, so firearm parts can be delivered. How are people getting bullets and brass into Australia?
Ben

[RAVEN]

I have just recieved my bullet order which was made the day before the SH*&T hit the fan.
I had a good chat to customs in Sydney and he said that AP doent know what is doing and hasnt thought it through apparently it is being sorted out at the highest level in canberra
I asked the officer should I order more or wait he advised me that there should be no problems doing this.
I was also made aware that AP has tagged Brownells as a firearm part seller so if they are using BAX no probs
Cheers
RB