2023-08: NEXDOC transition for edible honey and apiculture products to Great Britain

20 March 2023

Purpose

This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise that export certification for honey and apiculture products for human consumption to Great Britain is transitioning to the Next Export Documentation (NEXDOC) system from 30 March 2023.

Manual certificate applications will no longer be available for the NGBA certificates.

Summary of changes and key points

• From Thursday 30 March 2023, exporters must use NEXDOC to apply for their export certification for honey and bee products for human consumption to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).
• NEXDOC is the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s (the department) web-based export documentation system for Australian exporters.
• Exporters of honey and bee products to Great Britain need to 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.
• Exporters will need to select ‘United Kingdom’ as the destination country when lodging a Request for Export (REX) for shipments to Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales).
• The establishment recorded in the ‘Place of Dispatch registration number’ field of the REX must be export listed in the department’s Establishment Register (ER) for Honey/Bee Products for Human Consumption to the United Kingdom (UK). The establishment must hold an active UK honey listing at the date which the REX is submitted.
• The establishment recorded in the ‘Process Establishment number’ field of the REX must be export listed in the Department’s ER system for Honey/Bee Products for Human Consumption to the UK. The establishment must hold an active UK honey listing at the time of the honey product line process start and end date as well as at the date when the REX is submitted.
• The UK requires health certificates to be printed on, or prior to, the nominated date of departure. If the REX is not submitted in sufficient time to allow printing and signing on, or before the date of departure, the department will not issue a health certificate.
• The NGBA certificate template will require a wet signature and stamp to be applied by a department Authorised Officer. Remote Print is not available for this market.
• Exporters must use the Print Region field of the REX to select the departmental Regional Office to print their certificate. Exporters must contact the department at FoodExports@aff.gov.au to make certificate collection arrangements.
• Attachment 1 provides guidance material for exporters on how to complete the NGBA certificate template within the NEXDOC Portal.
• The manual application form must be used for exporters requesting a replacement certificate for any manual certificate issued for honey and bee products to Great Britain prior to 30 March 2023.

Trade to Northern Ireland

Trade of honey and apiculture products for human consumption to Northern Ireland will continue on the existing manual European Union (EU) model certificate (EUHGB version 06/22), under the Northern Ireland Protocol agreed between the United Kingdom (UK) and the EU. Certification for honey and apiculture products to Northern Ireland has not transitioned to NEXDOC.

Background

• Over the past year, export certification for honey and bee products to 20 countries has been transitioned to NEXDOC.
• The department is implementing NEXDOC for honey and apiculture products in phases and a full list of countries transitioned to NEXDOC is outlined on the transitioning to NEXDOC webpage.
• To find out more on how to use or register for NEXDOC, visit the NEXDOC webpage.

Contact information

If you have any questions regarding this IAN please email the NEXDOC Project team at EnhancedTraceabilityProject@aff.gov.au.

Christine Mulhearn
Assistant Secretary
Residues and Food Branch
Exports and Veterinary Services Division
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry