Date of effect: Immediate
Reference Number: MAA2023-01
Attention
- Egg Exporters - Australian
- Egg Export establishments
- Licensed exporters
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Central and Regional offices
Purpose
This Market Access Advice provides information on notification to Australia from Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) National Agriculture Quarantine & Inspection Authority (NAQIA) of a ban on issuance of import permits for eggs and egg products from Australia, effective from 6 January 2023.
Summary of key points
- On 11 January 2023 the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) received formal advice from PNG’s acting Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), notifying of a ban by PNG’s National Agriculture Quarantine & Inspection Authority (NAQIA) on issuance of import permits for eggs and egg products from Australia and Asia (excluding New Zealand).
- Consignments of eggs and egg products already departed from port of loading and enroute to PNG prior to 6 January 2023 will be accepted.
- The department will issue certification for consignments with a valid import permit dated on or before 6 January 2023.
- Exporters are advised to immediately cease requesting health certificates for the export of eggs and egg products to PNG.
- For consignments of these products loaded and enroute to PNG after 6 January 2023, exporters should contact the department to either return the consignments to Australia or redirect the products to alternative markets.
- Consignments sent after 6 January 2023 will be detained upon arrival in PNG and it is unlikely that the department would be able to facilitate release of consignments while the ban remains in force.
- Please note PNG’s acting CVO has emphasised that the ban is a directive from the PNG Government and no scientific or technical basis for the decision has been provided to the department.
- The department encourages all exporters to liaise with their industry bodies to stay informed of any updates on this matter.
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.