Location:

CASA media release - Monday 18 December 2006
On-line Christmas sellers warned: don't risk air safety

Australia’s on-line retailing industry is being warned it must meet all safety regulations when shipping products by air.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has identified a pre-Christmas surge in potentially dangerous items being transported as air freight without proper safety precautions.

Dangerous goods inspections this month have found large quantities of perfumes that have been sent as air freight without being consigned as dangerous goods due to their flammability.

Hundreds of bottles of imported perfume have not been packaged according to international specifications, marked as a hazard or subject to proper checking and documentation.

This means the perfume could pose a higher risk to aircraft safety, particularly if boxes were accidentally crushed during flight or if incorrectly sealed containers leaked.

There is evidence the perfume is being ordered through on-line retailers or web sites and imported to Australia.  CASA has raised the problem with aviation authorities in other nations and warned Australian freight forwarders of the increased risk.

Freight fowarders have also been reminded of the need to remove any hidden dangerous goods from the air freight system when they are detected.  In addition, CASA will be carrying out spot checks at major Australian freight centres to make sure proper procedures are being followed and to identify sources of undeclared dangerous goods.

People buying perfume through on-line stores or web sites are being asked to help to keep the aviation freight system safe.

CASA spokesman Peter Gibson says people purchasing perfume on-line should simply ask the retailer how the products are going to be shipped and if all safety regulations will be followed.

“If the answer is that perfume is being sent by express post then be very sceptical about safety – ask for proof as very few retailers have this type of contract,” Mr Gibson says.

“Where perfume is coming from overseas and the freight cost is very low then it is highly unlikely proper aviation safety procedures are being followed.

“Making these checks is in the buyer’s interest because if perfume or any other dangerous good is not properly declared and shipped by air it runs the risk of never arriving.  Undeclared dangerous goods may be sent back to the sender or can be confiscated.”

For more information: http://www.casa.gov.au/dg/freight/send.htm

 

Media contact:
Peter Gibson
mobile 0419 296 446
Ref: MR0675