25 July 2022
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is in addition to IAN 2022-07 and advises exporters of honey and bee products that 15 additional countries for which the EX188B certificate is issued will be transitioned to the Next Export Documentation System (NEXDOC) as of 28 July 2022. Manual certificate applications will no longer be available for EX188B markets that have transitioned to NEXDOC.
Summary of changes and key points
- From 28 July 2022, exporters must use NEXDOC to apply for EX188B certification for honey and bee products to additional countries that have transitioned to NEXDOC. The list of countries transitioned to NEXDOC is outlined in Table 1. The Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) will also be updated to reflect these changes.
- From 28 July 2022, manual EX188B certificates will no longer be issued for honey and bee product markets which have transitioned to NEXDOC, or new markets where there are no existing certification arrangements for honey and bee products.
- Manual EX188B certificate applications will only remain available for honey and bee products exported to China, Indonesia, and Vietnam; these countries are not yet transitioned to NEXDOC.
- Exporters using the manual application form to export honey and bee products to countries in Table 1 must lodge any final applications by 5pm AEST, 25 July 2022. This will ensure the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry can process the application prior to 28 July 2022.
- The manual application form must also be used for exporters requesting a replacement certificate for any manual certificate issued for honey and bee products to countries in Table 1 prior to 28 July 2022.
- From 28 July 2022, exporters will be able to use NEXDOC to request a new endorsement for a product line in their Request for Export (REX). If a REX contains multiple product lines, each free text endorsement will generate a separate export certificate for each product line.
- Exporters must only make a ‘free text endorsement’ request if there is no default endorsement options setup in NEXDOC.
- If requesting a free text endorsement, exporters must attach to the REX a copy of the official importing country requirements and supporting documentation to confirm the products meet the requested attestations. The department will assess each free text endorsement request on a case-by-case basis.
- Exporters of honey and bee products to countries transitioned to NEXDOC can register for NEXDOC through the online services portal. Exporters can access more information on how to register as an exporter by visiting the NEXDOC help page.
- Attachment 1 (PDF 158 KB) provides guidance on how information recorded within the NEXDOC Portal will generate onto the EX188B certificate.
- Exporters of honey and bee products to countries which have not transitioned to NEXDOC, will continue with the current manual application form—Application for a government export certificate for non-prescribed goods—until the relevant market is transitioned to NEXDOC.
- IAN 2021-07 advises that the department can issue export certification for non-prescribed goods to meet importing country requirements, and what certification is available if importing country requirements are unable to be confirmed.
- The department will not issue export certification for honey and bee products to markets where Micor advises that government certification is not required.
Table 1: List of markets that will be transitioned to NEXDOC on 28 July 2022.
| Bahrain | French Polynesia | Hong Kong |
| Kenya | Kuwait | Libya |
| Macau | Mauritius | Oman |
| Papua New Guinea | Philippines | Taiwan |
| Thailand | United Arab Emirates | Vanuatu |
Background
- On 28 March 2022, export certification for honey and bee products to Malaysia was transitioned to NEXDOC.
- The department is implementing NEXDOC for honey and apiculture products in phases with more countries and certificates to follow.
- Further information about transitioning the EX188B to NEXDOC for honey and apiculture products is in IAN 2022-07.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN please email the Non-Prescribed Goods Export program at NPGExports@aff.gov.au.
Tom Black
Assistant Secretary
Residues and Food Exports Branch
Exports and Veterinary Services Division
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry