Date of issue: 15 October 2024
Date of effect: 25 September 2024
Related MAAs: MAA 2024-36 (recalled)
Attention
- Industry bodies – Dairy Australia, Infant Nutrition Council, Dairy Export Industry Consultative Committee, Australian Food and Grocery Council
- Dairy Export Establishments
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – Central and Regional offices
Purpose
This Market Access Advice (MAA) replaces MAA 2024-36 notifying industry of new certification for milk and milk products for human consumption exported to India. Certificate template ZDIN01 and Endorsement 9900 will be available to exporters in the Next Export Documentation (NEXDOC) System from 25 September 2024.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has finalised negotiations with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and the Indian Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying regarding new certification for Australian milk and milk products for human consumption exported to India.
Certificate template ZDIN01 is titled, “Veterinary Health Certificate for Import of Milk and Milk Products into India” and must be used with Endorsement 9900. This certificate template and endorsement replace certificate template ZD035 and Endorsements 3898 and 6074 for the export of milk and milk products to India.
Raising a Request for Export (REX) for milk and milk products for human consumption to India
When raising a REX with the new certificate template, Endorsement 9900 is the default endorsement and does not need to be selected.
Exporters must enter the commercial invoice number and invoice date for the consignment. The commercial invoice number and date details must be entered via the additional information field and will populate in the relevant field in the certificate.
Note: if using the NEXDOC portal the additional information field is under the ‘Consignee details’ tab. If using external software, please contact your software provider if you cannot locate this field.
Exporters should note due to Indian requirements certificate template ZDIN01 is a one product line certificate. Where multiple products lines are entered in the REX, separate certificates will be issued for each product line.
New endorsements
Exporters are responsible for ensuring their products comply with Indian importing country requirements and will be accepted at border inspection.
Certificate template ZDIN01 with Endorsement 9900 states the following:
The undersigned Official Veterinarian certifies that the product(s) described above satisfies the following requirement.
1a. The source animals have never been fed with feeds produced from meat or bone meal including internal organs, blood meal and tissues of ruminant and porcine origin materials except milk and milk products.
1b. The milk product has not been manufactured using animal rennet.
2a. The milk has been processed (including destruction of FMDV) to make it fit for human consumption as recommended by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Human consumption is the intended purpose of the milk product.
2b. The milk has been processed to a temperature which ensures destruction of organisms causing Tuberculosis, Listeriosis, Para tuberculosis, Q fever and Brucellosis.
2c. The animals from which the milk has been derived were not exposed to Bovine Growth Hormones (BGH)/ Bovine Somatotropin Hormones (BST).
2d. The source animals were not subjected to estrogenic treatment in last 90 days.
2e. The milk and milk products do not contain preformed bacterial toxins such as those produced by bacteria belonging to Staph. aureus, Bacillus cereus, Clost. perfringes and Clost. botulinum.
3a. The above-mentioned products comply with the Australian Export legislation which has been deemed to provide equivalent outcomes to India's Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the rules and regulations made thereunder.
3b. The products have been manufactured at establishments approved by the Australian Government competent authority to export to India.
3c. The milk does not contain drug, pesticides, heavy metal residues, mycotoxins, antibiotics and additives above the limits prescribed by Australian legislation.
3d. The products were produced under programs which minimise pathogenic microorganisms and meet the required outcomes.
3e. Production, packing, storage, and transportation of these products has been done in a sanitary manner pursuant to Australian export legislation and Australian standards and implemented within the context of HACCP systems where appropriate.
3f. The products have been subject to regular inspections and monitoring in accordance with Australian standards and legislation and the rules and regulations made thereunder.
Micor
The Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) has been updated to reflect this market access advice. The department encourages users of Micor to subscribe to the Micor update service for a commodity-specific email that lists changes that have been made the preceding week.
Further information
Contact exportstandards@aff.gov.au if you have any queries.
The information provided in this advice is current at the time of writing and is intended for use as guidance only and should not be taken as definitive or exhaustive. The Commonwealth endeavours to keep information current and accurate, however, it may be subject to change without notice. Exporters are encouraged to verify these details with their importers prior to undertaking production/exports. The Commonwealth will not accept liability for any loss resulting from reliance on information contained in this notice.