Has Australia Post changed legislation?

[Thekirsh]

Hi all,

I am in Melbourne Australia and for the first time have just had a sword I was sending overseas returned to me.

Australia post sent the attached letter( I removed the name and tracking number)

It didn't even make it out of Melbourne.

I used EMS priority express, listed the sword as "Japanese Antique Nihonto" and marked the harmonized tariff code onto the package.

Does anyone know if there has been a change in the rules/regulations with Australia post or was it just bad luck?

Does anyone in Oz use a different carrier?

Thanks Simon

[sanjuro]

Hi Simon.

 

Its getting worse ............ Postal and airline carriers will not handle nihonto etc as stated. Going out of Australia you may have to use surface mail. The post Office isnt the problem, as long as it is securely packed they will put it through the system. Its the airlines and the recent legislation relating to 'weapons' on aircraft that is the problem you have encountered. The silly part is that coming into Australia, Fedex and EMS via Australia post will handle and land nihonto at Tullamarine. You just have to jump through the hoops with customs before they allow Australia Post to deliver it to the recipient.

We live in Paranoid world, and government departments have a monopoly on paranoia, whilst having no concept of common sense. Add to that the fact that a petty official with a rubber stamp and very little power, is probably the most officious and paranoid person on the planet, and you can just about define not only the postal system, Australian Customs and civil aviation authorities, but also most government controlled services in Australia.

[Justin]

This is very concerning Simon ... What was the destination country? I am looking through Australia Post's Terms and Conditions document now to see if anything has changed. Have you contacted Australia Post and asked for an explanation?

[Thekirsh]

Keith,

Thanks for the feedback, maybe surface mail is an option? have you used it?

I couldn't agree more with your sentiments too, its crazy:roll:, we can bring a sword in but cannot send one out.Just doesn't make sense ( Opps forgot, it's the government)

 

Justin

Country of origin was Canada and I sent a tanto there, using the same service a month ago without any problems.I guess it was a smaller package?

I tried contacting Australia post but who would have guessed....they didn't answer the phone

 

I had a look at the postal guide and have added an extract, the D4.7 clause may be the reason along with Keiths comments on airline restrictions.

Maybe the commonwealth permit is an option?

Simon

 

Extracts from the Australia post guide

“Dangerous and Prohibited Goods and Packing”

 

SECTION 3 – OTHER GOODS PROHIBITED OR

RESTRICTED IN ALL SERVICES

D3.10 – Sharp and pointed articles Australia Post prohibits in all services sharp-edged and pointed articles unless packed as prescribed in D10.15.

 

SECTION 4 – GOODS PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED IN INTERNATIONAL POST

D4.7 – Military goods

Military goods, civilian arms and goods containing dual-use (military/civilian) technology require a permit from the Commonwealth Department of Defence.

Also, check for prohibitions and/or restrictions in the destination country. See the International Post Guide(8838525) or at Australia Post’s internet site http://www.auspost.com.au/international.

[steve oakley]

Hi

I sent a sword through Auspost in April this year to the United States for repair. I sent it by normal air post with insurance, it got to the destination with no problems in about 10 days. I believe I listed it as a Japanese Nihonto Antique over 100 years old. It came back last week after the repairs were done without any problems going through Auspost or customs.

 

I would not recommend surface mail. Sent a book to Germany in early March and it never arrived until late June. I actually thought that it had been lost in the mail but it eventually turned up to the address. You could give surface mail a go but after that experience I would never use it again.

 

Maybe if you select regular postage rather than express it may go through, its just a thought.

 

Steve

[sanjuro]

I agree with Steve. Surface mail is a long winded way of shipping, but ex Japan it is about the only way you can do it coming into Australia. My last incoming nihonto was from America and it came in no problem. I havent personally shipped anything for about twelve months except within Australia, so the legislation may have been tweaked yet again. Usually the guy at my local post office is a whizz at interpreting the current legislation, so I rely on him.

 

A word of caution: Beware when calling Australia Post inquiries...... You may get conflicting information! I have found this out through bitter experience. Those customer service departments are like telstra, and everyother call centre inasmuch as they are populated by staff in a call centre in New Delhi (or may as well be), who suffer from various levels of incompetence and make a point of being officious to make up for the fact that they have no idea of what you are talking about. The result is usually that they tend to interpret the regulations in a negatively creative way whilst being sickeningly polite about it.

 

A quick phone call to a shipping agent might be very informative regarding the current situation with nihonto. If anyone knows about the current legislation it will be someone who deals with it every day.

[steve oakley]

Here is a customs broker that I used previously http://www.auspostcustoms.com.au

 

Although the are for the importing of goods, they maybe able to assist with your export questions.

 

Steve

[Thekirsh]

Thanks for the input guys,

I will give surface mail a miss for now and contact a broker for advice.

A dealer has told me he also used standard post not express and has not had an issue.

I will make further inquiries with Australia post etc and add anything I find to the thread.

Cheers Simon

[Sporkkaji]

Why not simply label it "Original Artwork", which is technically true. Seems that would prevent any weapon related issues.

[sanjuro]

Both Australian Customs and Australia Post X-ray incoming and outgoing pakages. A deliberate false statement would attract a large fine and confiscation of the item. It isnt worth the penalty of trying to deceive them. Antique forged metalwork might get past, since it is essentially true. The customs agent will know the right terms to insert on the forms.