Date of issue: 9 July 2020
Date of effect: 9 July 2020
Who does this notice affect?
Due to the escalation of COVID-19 measures in the state of Victoria - all industry stakeholders involved in exports.
Purpose
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the department) has received enquiries about how it is approaching its staffing, regulatory and operational obligations in relation to regulating export establishments and the risks posed by the COVID 19 outbreak.
This notice is to advise that the department is continuing to monitor the situation while working to protect staff, establishments and on-going access to our international markets.
This notice covers establishments that prepare and/or store food and other goods (referred to as non-prescribed goods) for export. Advice about dairy, eggs, fish and processed meat registered establishments and for organic exports is available here.
Non-prescribed goods - essential services
To meet importing country requirements, the department will continue to:
- issue export certificates
- audit and list establishments, including audits conducted by third party providers
- assist with detained consignments
- assist with certification and market access related issues
- enquiries sent to the following mailboxes will continue to be actioned:
The department has active business continuity and contingency plans in place and will activate these should circumstances require. These plans are aimed at ensuring that export certification can continue, with all critical functions being supported.
Industry can expect to experience general delays in the responsiveness of department staff during this time. This will include our ability to take and return phone calls, respond to emails and action requests.
Audit and listing of establishments preparing and/or storing non-prescribed goods for export
Many of our key trading partners have mandatory requirements for the department, as the competent authority, to certify that non-prescribed goods for export have been produced in compliance with their requirements. The ability of the department to certify applicable products for export is underpinned by our audit and listing processes.
Audit obligations
The department will endeavour to ensure that audits will continue to be conducted within the COVID-19 response arrangements so that appropriate verification of compliance with importing country requirements is undertaken.
Please be reminded that you are obliged to provide assistance to departmental and third-party auditors and the documents requested within the timeframes specified by the auditor.
Scheduled audits
Where an establishment is continuing to process, prepare, pack and or store product for export, it is important that auditors continue to have access to premises, if required. You are encouraged to regard your scheduled audit as verification of the effectiveness of your ongoing ability to meet importing country requirements during a period of rapid change.
Auditors requiring access to premises include authorised officers of the department and third-party auditors undertaking audits on the department’s behalf.
While it is acknowledged that some establishments have implemented changed requirements for visitors, be advised that our officers and approved auditors are performing a regulatory function that provides assurance that your establishment and operations are meeting importing country requirements. A failure to assist or provide access could impact your ability to continue exporting your product.
Position on auditors accessing establishments
Auditor compliance with the health and safety requirements at export establishments will continue, including where reasonably practical, any new or enhanced screening procedures that have been introduced.
Similarly, it is expected that all auditors and staff of export establishments will continue to comply with existing regulatory requirements for health and hygiene and will not present for work if they are sick, have a communicable disease, or are otherwise feeling unwell.
New and continuation of establishment listings
COVID-19 response arrangements permitting, the department will continue to process applications for new establishment listing and continuation of existing listings.
As other countries manage their response to the pandemic, there is likely to be impacts on their listing processes with some countries not able to action listing requests for a period. Information will be provided to industry through market access advices where countries have notified the department of such delays.
If you require additional information, please contact: NPGExports@awe.gov.au Further information regarding the impacts of COVID-19 on the operations of the department can be found on the department’s COVID-19 website.