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Under the new interim agreement, passengers will be advised to hand in their docket to staff from the Duty Free Security Company – pictured here at Brisbane airport |
AUSTRALIA. Off-airport (downtown) duty free retailers will benefit from a temporary agreement struck with Customs once the country’s new aviation security regulations are introduced on 31 March.
As reported, from that date Australia introduces a new security regime based (largely) on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommendations governing liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) that can be taken landside to airside.
With a 100ml maximum in place, the new regulations spelled the potential death of liquor sales at Australia’s off-airport shops. Such sales have traditionally meant the consumer purchases the item, takes it to the airport together with the relevant paperwork and has the invoice collected by a “˜docket plucker’ positioned airside.
With the 100ml limit in place, the goods could not be taken through the landside-to-airside security point.
Recognising the huge impact this will have on off-airport retailers, the Australian Customs Service has introduced an interim formula from 31 March until midnight 29 April 2007. This will enable travellers to stow LAGs purchased downtown in their suitcases.
Tom Thomas, President of the Australian Duty Free Association (ADFA) and owner of West Australian downtown retailer Gateway Duty Free, cautiously welcomed the interim agreement as providing some relief for off-airport companies whose liquor business stood to be devastated by the new regulations. “It’s progress of a sort,” he said. “It could be the way forward in terms of the transit issue as it gets around that problem – that’s the positive side.”
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The duty free docket collection point at Melbourne Airport |
But he warned that many travellers would be wary of packing their Baileys Irish Cream or a bottle of single malt whisky into their suitcases, fearing breakages.
Details of the interim agreement are as follows:
– For LAGs duty and tax free items only, passengers may remove dockets from sealed bags before check-in so that LAG items can be packed in hold luggage.
– Duty and tax free LAG items should be packed in a sealed bag separate from non-LAG items at the point of purchase.
– Passengers take their sealed bags to the airport as normal and, after removing the docket from the sealed bag containing LAGs, pack the items securely into hold luggage before reaching the airline check-in counter.
– Queue combers* will assist by informing passengers of this process as part of their general instructions relating to LAGs.
– As the standard practice of reconciling plucked dockets with sales will continue, passengers will be advised to hand in their docket to staff from the Duty Free Security Company [a co-operative non-profit-making company, owned and operated by the Australian Duty Free Association -Ed]
Once the traveller passes through the passport control point (where the “˜docket plucking’ staff are currently located), Duty Free Security Company staff will check that these dockets only apply to LAGs.
Docket plucking of sealed bag non-LAG items will continue to occur after the outwards control point.
Customs said that any long-term solution for overcoming the obstacles of the LAG measures must come from the duty free industry. Duty free licensees, the Duty Free Security Company, airlines and airports must agree on the logistics of an approach that meets Customs and Australian Taxation Office requirements, it pointed out.
It said that from 00:01hrs on 30 April 2007 the industry should have in place commercial arrangements for an export verification process that meets the minimum requirements.
*FOOTNOTE: Queue combers are uniformed staff who will be employed during the first month of the new security regime to assist passengers. They will be present along airline check-in queues, assisting passengers with LAG items (including sealed bag purchases), and encouraging them to pack non-exempt items not in 100ml bottles in hold luggage. Some airports will also have queue combers present at the screening point.
MORE STORIES ON THE AUSTRALIAN AVIATION SECURITY REGULATIONS
Australian retailers to be hurt by security changes; inbound and downtown sales impacted – 22/02/07
Australian airports to see EU-harmonised security; duty free lobby slams ‘inconsistency’ – 08/12/06
“˜We’re between a rock and a hard place’ – security crisis for Aussie downtown stores – 04/12/06
