All you need to know about screening requirements for domestic and Australian international air freight.
The Australian Government requires all air freight to be examined before loading onto an aircraft. Freight can be pre-screened and presented with a Consignment Security Declaration (CSD), screened at the terminal if facilities are available or exempt from screening.
Freight requiring onsite screening will need to be presented at piece-level (except for homogeneous freight) and fees will apply. Further information on these security measures can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Presenting goods as pre-screened ensures your freight is processed efficiently through our terminals and avoids unnecessary delays and costs associated with onsite screening. Regulated Air Cargo Agents (RACA), Accredited Air Cargo Agents (AACA) and Known Consignors (KC) can lodge their freight with a valid Consignment Security Declaration (CSD) which certifies that all necessary screening processes have been applied prior to lodgement. Including CSD information for domestic freight in every booking online removes the need to present paper CSDs at lodgement.
Pre-screening is required for the following freight:
Arranging to have your freight pre-screened
Customers looking to have their freight pre-screened can engage a Regulated Air Cargo Agent (RACA) who will screen and lodge goods on their behalf.
Qantas Freight offers onsite screening facilities for customers who want to have their freight screened at the terminal.
Freight requiring screening at our facilities must be lodged earlier than pre-screened freight to allow for the extra security steps.
Domestic - freight must be lodged at least 15 minutes earlier than pre-screened freight cut-off times.
International - freight requiring screening at our facilities, cut-off times are as follows:
To help our terminal teams process your freight at lodgement efficiently, and to avoid delays or disruptions due to missed flights, there are some important screening specifications to consider when preparing your freight for uplift from ports where enhanced screening measures are in place.
Freight being screened at Qantas Freight terminals must be:
Any freight that is not able to pass through the scanner due to density, weight or size will need to be cleared by a manual internal Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) test. Due to operational and safety requirements the ability to complete an ETD varies across facilities and time of day and must be pre-arranged with the local terminal.
For any freight that fails the screening tests, our terminal teams will contact the customer to arrange for pick up.
Whilst live animal shipments are generally exempt from screening and exemptions will apply where the animal is clearly visible and easily identified (such as a pet in an approved travel crate), live animals being transported in sealed containers will need to be screened to comply with regulatory requirements.
Pre-screening can be arranged via a RACA who will present the shipment with a CSD. Any shipments of live animals presented in sealed containers without a CSD will need to be screened using the x-ray facilities at the terminal. Alternatively you can explore becoming a Known Consignor to lodge secure cargo yourself. Please refer to the CSD user guide for more information.
Special handling items such as pharmaceutical products should be presented as pre-screened. Given the nature of the goods being shipped, pharmaceutical companies may qualify for the Known Consignor (KC) program due to their existing strong security framework.
Due to the nature of some freight, screening may not apply. Freight in this category includes live animals that are clearly visible and not packed in a sealed container, blood or organs and human remains.
Exempt and non-exempt cargo must be lodged on separate AWB’s. This is in line with screening regulation and will also ensure accurate charging by Qantas Freight.