An assessment of goods may be carried out under this Part only if the assessment is required or permitted to be carried out under this Act.

The purpose of carrying out an assessment of goods under this Part   is to verify:

  (a)   that the requirements of this Act in relation to the goods have been, or will be, complied with; or

  (b)   that importing country requirements relating to the goods have been, or will be, met; or

  (c)   that a matter stated, or to be stated, in a government certificate in relation to the goods is true and correct.

An assessment of goods may be carried out by an authorised officer or an approved assessor. An approved assessor is a person, or a person included in a class of persons, approved by the Secretary or a person included in a class of persons specified by the rules.

An assessment of goods must be carried out in accordance with the rules.

An assessor may exercise certain powers in carrying out an assessment.

An approved assessor may charge a fee in relation to things done in the performance of the approved assessor's functions or the exercise of the approved assessor's powers under this Act.