Meat notice 2023-05: Changes to the appearance of Australia’s official marks – bolt seals and tamper-indicative seals

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2023-05 - Changes to the appearance of Australia’s official marks – bolt seals and tamper-indicative seals (PDF 431 KB)

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NSFS reference: 5

Issue date: August 2023

Date of effect: 1 October 2023

Contact officer:

Adam Balcerak
Director, Export Meat Program
officialmarks.exportmeat@aff.gov.au

Purpose

This notice provides notification of a change in the appearance of official marks – bolt seals and tamper-indicative metal strap seals - and advice regarding the implementation date and ordering arrangements for the new seals.

Note, this Meat Notice, MN23/05, replaces the earlier MN23/03 – which has now been archived - and outlines the process and steps for ordering Departmental bolts and seals. It further provides additional policy context around the colour of bolt seals and for which types of consignments they are to be used for during export operations.

Scope

This notice applies to all export registered establishments.

Definitions

The following table defines terms used in this notice.

Term	Definition
Official mark – tamper-indicative metal strap seal	As defined in the Export Control Rules 2021. For example, in the Export Control (Meat and Meat Products) 2021, Part 3: 8-14 Official mark—tamper indicative metal strap seal A seal that: is a tamper indicative metal strap seal that can be secured in a loop by inserting one end of the seal into or through a protected locking mechanism on the other end; and complies with ISO 17712:2013 Freight containers—Mechanical seals, published by the International Organization for Standardization, as that document exists at the commencement of this instrument; and bears the words “Australian Government”; and bears a unique number, or a unique combination of letters and numbers, provided to the manufacturer of the seal by the Department; is an official mark for the purposes of the Act.
Official mark – bolt seal	As defined in the Export Control Rules 2021. For example, in the Export Control (Meat and Meat Products) 2021, Part 3: 8-15 Official mark—bolt seal A seal that: is a high security bolt seal; and complies with ISO 17712:2013 Freight containers—Mechanical seals, published by the International Organization for Standardization, as that document exists at the commencement of this instrument; and bears the words “Australian Government”; and bears a unique number, or a unique combination of letters and numbers, provided to the manufacturer of the seal by the Department; and is coated with green or blue plastic; is an official mark for the purposes of the Act.

Term

Definition

Official mark – tamper-indicative metal strap seal

As defined in the Export Control Rules 2021. For example, in the Export Control (Meat and Meat Products) 2021, Part 3:

8-14 Official mark—tamper indicative metal strap seal

A seal that:

is a tamper indicative metal strap seal that can be secured in a loop by inserting one end of the seal into or through a protected locking mechanism on the other end; and
complies with ISO 17712:2013 Freight containers—Mechanical seals, published by the International Organization for Standardization, as that document exists at the commencement of this instrument; and
bears the words “Australian Government”; and
bears a unique number, or a unique combination of letters and numbers, provided to the manufacturer of the seal by the Department;

is an official mark for the purposes of the Act.

Official mark – bolt seal

As defined in the Export Control Rules 2021. For example, in the Export Control (Meat and Meat Products) 2021, Part 3:

8-15 Official mark—bolt seal

A seal that:

is a high security bolt seal; and
complies with ISO 17712:2013 Freight containers—Mechanical seals, published by the International Organization for Standardization, as that document exists at the commencement of this instrument; and
bears the words “Australian Government”; and
bears a unique number, or a unique combination of letters and numbers, provided to the manufacturer of the seal by the Department; and
is coated with green or blue plastic;

is an official mark for the purposes of the Act.

Summary of changes

Following a recent tender process, a change in appearance of official marks bolt seals and tamper-indicative metal strap seals will occur.

The implementation date for these changes is 1 October 2023.

The existing bolt seals and tamper-indicative metal strap seals must cease being applied on 30 September 2023.

The department will be notifying trading partners of the upcoming changes, including the appearance of the seals to facilitate a smooth transition and prevent any disruptions to trade.

Image of three rectangular-style labels, one green, one purple/blue, one silver; they have "Australian Government" printed on them and the number 00000

Image of three labels, one long and silver, the other two are shorter, with metal tipped plugs on one end; green and purple/blue in colour; they have "Australian Government" printed on them and the number 00000

Colour bolt seals to be used

Where it is a requirement for the container system unit to be sealed with an official mark - bolt seal, the following colour seals must be used:

For prescribed goods, green bolt seals (Refer to Table 1)
For non-prescribed goods, blue bolt seals.

*Table 1: When a green bolt seal must be applied to a container system unit*
Products	Legislative reference
Products	Rules	When the bolt seal must be applied	Who can apply the bolt seal
Prescribed meat or meat products	Export Control (Meat and Meat Products) Rules 2021	5-19	8-26
Prescribed wild game meat or wild game meat products	Export Control (Wild Game Meat and Wild Game Meat Products) Rules 2021	5-14	8-23
Prescribed poultry meat or poultry meat products	Export Control (Poultry Meat and Poultry Meat Products) Rules 2021	5-16	8-22
Prescribed rabbit meat, ratite meat, rabbit meat products or ratite meat products	Export Control (Rabbit and Ratite Meat and Rabbit and Ratite Meat Products) Rules 2021	5-20	8-22

Requirements

Establishments are advised to ensure adequate stock levels of current bolts and seals to see through exports until 30 September 2023.

Please email VEMGPlanning&Coord@aff.gov.au should stock levels be inadequate to meet this timeframe. Further information regarding the destruction procedure of current seals will be provided shortly.

Seal ordering information for initial rollout

The department has contracted Mega Fortris Pty Ltd to supply and deliver official seals directly to stakeholders.

An updated order form is provided with this meat notice, additionally the order form will be available on the Agriculture website. Order forms for Container and Tamper-indicative seals

Seal consignments will be delivered by Direct Freight Express couriers.
The order form has changed to include additional stakeholder delivery details to assist the courier, Direct Freight Express to find the nominated location.
The department will continue to receive all seal orders to vemgplanning&coord@aff.gov.au

It is preferred that the seal order form is typed for ease of review and to ensure correct delivery details are used.

Step by Step Instruction

Complete all fields of the Seal order form.
Forward the completed seal order form to vemgplanning&coord@aff.gov.au
Mega Fortris will receive your seal order from the department and process the order – if received by Mega Fortris prior to 11.00am EDST it will be despatched the same day.
Your order can be tracked using the email address provided in the seal order form.
Direct Freight Express will deliver your order, depending on your location in 1-10 business days Australia wide.

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding this Meat Notice, please email officialmarks.exportmeat@aff.gov.au.

Adam Balcerak
Director
Export Meat Program
August 2023