20 March 2023
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice is to advise that the department is seeking industry views as part of early consultation on export assurance reform—reforms to Australia’s export regulatory assurance framework for non-prescribed goods (NPGs). We are looking for exporters and manufacturers of NPGs to share their opinions, ideas, and perspective with us.
Summary and key points
The department has begun a discussion on reforming the ways we can formally provide assurance to trading partners for the exported goods we call non-prescribed goods. Examples include goods like processed foods and edible and inedible animal by-products.
The work is primarily about what underpins Australia’s exports of non-prescribed goods, and how the department can continue to and bolster the assurances we provide to our trading partners. We want to make sure our export regulatory assurance systems can provide the appropriate levels and types of assurance now and into the future. We aim to have systems and processes that are modern and fit for purpose, and flexible enough for new products or different risks.
In time, this may mean we need to more formally capture these goods under our legislation or consider other approaches that give us the right level of flexibility to quickly respond to changes—whether they are changes to a country’s import requirements, production methods, technology, or a change in risk profile. We want to give Australian exporters the best possible support to secure and capitalise on any trade opportunity.
Have your say
Gathering the views of industries, exporters, and manufacturers involved in the export of NPGs is a critical part of the reform discussion and process. We are keen to ensure that a future framework for non-prescribed goods is fit for purpose and appropriate to industry and trading partner needs now and in the future.
We invite industries to share this with those who are involved in the production, processing, preparation or export of NPGs.
Follow this link to the survey: https://haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/export-assurance
We estimate it will take about a half hour to complete the survey.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN please email the Export Assurance Reform team.
Christine Mulhearn
Assistant Secretary
Residues and Food Branch
Exports and Veterinary Services Division
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry