Date of issue: 22 December 2020
Date of effect: Immediate
Reference Number: MAA2020-22
Related: MAA2020-20
Attention:
- Industries—Industry bodies - Seafood Export Consultative Committee
- Export establishments
- Licensed exporters
- Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment —Central and Regional offices
Purpose
This Market Access Advice (MAA) provides information to export registered seafood establishments and exporters on:
- The amended government certificate (health certificate) for the export of non-viable aquatic products to China, to be used from 1 January 2021, and;
- Guidance on the information required by exporters and registered seafood establishments to raise a request for permit (RFP) on the amended health certificate supporting template.
Summary of key points
- On 16 November 2020, the department received an official request from the General Administration of Customs, People’s Republic of China (GACC) advising that current health certification used for the import of (non-viable) aquatic products into China needed to be amended and approved by GACC, by 1 January 2021.
- GACC has advised that from 1 January 2021, only products accompanied by an approved health certificate will be accepted for export to China.
- The department has developed amended certification, to be used by exporters from 1 January 2021. It is a two-page certificate generated by EXDOC with a third page manual attachment to be submitted for endorsement by the department.
- Prior to 1 January 2020 current arrangements and format of certification will remain the same. All certification with a departure date on or after 1 January will be issued in the amended format.
- At the time of issuing of this MAA, the department has not received confirmation of acceptance of our proposal from GACC. Industry should note that in the absence of acceptance by GACC, there is a significant commercial risk with the use of the amended health certificate and attachment. It is strongly recommended that exporters consider delaying shipments to China until such time as the department receives acceptance of our proposed certification.
- If GACC does not accept our proposed certification, the department will cease to provide certification for non-viable seafood to China until such time that agreement has been reached.
Changes to requesting an export permit and China certificate
The health certificate template title and template number (FX46CN) in EXDOC has been amended to reference the new manually completed attachment, which will now be issued in lieu of the previously generated third page of the health certificate, which detailed catcher vessels and/or aquaculture farms.
The third page template (example attached) must be completed and either:
- the hard copy presented for signing and stamping by the department when the associated EXDOC health certificates are collected from department regional offices, or
- the completed attachment may also be emailed to foodexports@awe.gov.au where it will be signed and stamped by the department and can be collected from a department regional office when collecting the associated EXDOC health certificates or posted to you as per the standard process.
- Please use the following format for the subject line for all email attachments:
‘Air/Sea, RFP Number, Certificate Number, Seafood Attachment, China, Collection Location i.e. Melbourne Office, Exporter Name’
Note: the standard certificate collection process will still apply i.e. the department will notify you when your certificate is ready for collection, please wait for an email before attending the departmental regional office.
Information to be entered into RFP (EXDOC) fields:
There have been minor changes to how the information entered into EXDOC appears on the printed health certificate and the wording of printed attestations has been amended.
The only change required to be made when entering data into the EXDOC system is in relation to the free text field that is currently completed with details of catcher vessels. As this information is now listed on the attachment to the certificate – the only information that is entered into this field must be “CT catch” entered on a single line.
Information to be entered into the manual Attachment – Page 3 (example - Figure 1)
The following information is to be typed into the fillable pdf template:
Box 1: Attachment to Export Health certificate:
- Enter the corresponding health certificate number.
Box 2: Country of productive water area.
- Tick the box corresponding to where the fish were sourced from – either freshwater or seawater.
Box 3: Country of origin of raw materials.
- Enter either “Australia” or country of origin if product is imported.
Box 4: Aquaculture farm name and registration number approved by country of origin of raw materials.
Enter the name of the aquaculture farm and state or territory aquaculture license number. If this box is not applicable, enter “***”. This field cannot be left blank.
Box 5: Name of Fishing Vessel, Registration number and Flag of the Vessel.
This box is for wild origin product sourced from catcher boats only. Enter the names of the unregistered catcher vessels, followed by the boat mark / license number and flag of the vessel. For example: Sea Raider ABC123, (Australia)
If this box is not applicable, enter “***”. This field cannot be left blank.
Box 6: Name of Fishing and Factory Vessel, Registration number and Flag of the Vessel.
This box is for wild origin product sourced from export registered fishing vessels only. Enter the names of the registered fishing vessels and their respective Australian Reg. Est. No.s (Australia) If this box is not applicable, enter “***”. This field cannot be left blank.
Box 7: Name of Transport Fishing Vessel, Registration number and Flag of the Vessel.
If fish sourced has been transported from a catcher boat or registered vessel to port by a commercial carrier, mothership or barge; Enter the name of the transport vessels that transported the fish, license number and (Australia). This box is not for information about vessels that catch or process fish. If this box is not applicable, enter “***”. This field cannot be left blank.
Box 8: Name of Independent cold storage for raw materials, Registration number and host country of the Storage.
Enter all applicable export registered cold stores, Reg. Est. No. (Australia) included in the export chain for this product post catch/harvest and prior to receival at final processing establishment If this box is not applicable, enter “***”. This field cannot be left blank.
Box 9. Name of Independent cold storage for products, Registration number and host country of the Storage.
Enter all applicable export registered cold stores that stored or handled the product to be exported post final processing. Name, Reg. Est. No., (Australia). If this box is not applicable, enter “***”. This field cannot be left blank.
Enquiries and services during public holiday
Please note the department will be closing between Christmas and New Year public holidays. Normal business will resume on Monday 4 January 2020.
For certificate collection normal services will be available between Tuesday 29 – Thursday 31 December 2021.
If you require to arrange a pick up of health certificate and signing of the attachment outside of business hours, please arrange through the department regional offices by contacting foodexports@awe.gov.au. For services between 1-3 January 2021, please make the request by 1pm on Tuesday 29 December 2020.
Normal service time resumes from 4 January 2021.
- Clients submitting overtime requests are required to use the following email subject header:
‘Overtime, [date/s], [Commodity type i.e. fish, meat], [destination country], [exporter name], [regional office i.e. Perth, Melbourne]
- Please also indicate in your email whether your certificates would require either review in EXDOC by departmental staff or signatures.
Enquiries related to certificate collection or signing of the attachment, please contact the departmental regional office on 1800 900 090 ext 2 ext 2 or email foodexports@awe.gov.au.
If you have an urgent enquiry on raising a RFP during this period, please contact EXDOC Help Desk on (02) 6272 4700 or email EXDOC.Helpdesk@awe.gov.au.
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment encourages all exporters of all seafood to work with their importer to ensure you are informed of current border inspection activity and that product meets the current importing country requirements.
Download
| Document | Pages | File size |
|---|---|---|
Fish and fishery products exported from Australia to the People's Republic of China PDF  |
1 | 577 KB |
If you have difficulty accessing these files, please visit web accessibility.
Further information
Contact Dairyeggsfish@awe.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.