Date of issue: 26 October 2021
Date of effect: Immediate
Reference Number: MAA 2021-17
Relates to: MAA 2020-07, MAA 2020-10 (Dairy); MAA 2020-02, 2020-04 (Fish); MAA 2020-02, MAA 2020-06 (NPG)
Attention:
- Industries—Industry bodies – Dairy Australia, Dairy Export Industry Consultative Committee, Infant Nutrition Council, Seafood Export Consultative Committee, Australian Food and Grocery Council, Australian Honey Bee Industry Council
- Export dairy and seafood establishments
- Exporters
- Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment —Central and Regional offices
Purpose
To notify stakeholders that the temporary export certificate procedures for products exported to the European Union (EU) have now expired. The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment can no longer scan and email copies of export certificates to the EU.
Summary of key points
- In March 2020, the EU passed legislation to accept scanned copies of export certificates via email from competent authorities due to severe restrictions on courier services during the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures expired on 1 September 2021.
- Original paper export certificates must accompany consignments when presented to EU border control posts.
- The department can no longer send scanned copies of export certificates via email directly to the EU border control posts.
EU Certificate Reminders
EU regulations for export certificates have maintained the strict rules for issuing or replacing certificates:
- Original certificates must be issued (signed) prior to departure of the consignment.
- Once the consignment has departed, certificates may only be replaced if the original has been lost, damaged or destroyed, or has an obvious administrative error (such as a typo).
- There should not be any changes to the identification of the consignment, its traceability or the attestations in any replacement certificate issued after departure.
- If the consignee, port of entry, date of transport, or mode of transport change after a consignment has departed, then the importing agents should notify the EU border control post directly.
- If the border post requires a replacement certificate, exporters should contact the department (via foodexports@aff.gov.au) and provide a copy of the advice given to them by the border post.
- A replacement health certificate will be issued on a case-by-case basis, or as required by the EU border control post.
The department encourages all exporters to work with their importer to ensure that product meets the current importing country requirements.
Further information
Contact exportstandards@awe.gov.au if you have any queries.
The information provided in this advice is current at the time of writing and is intended for use as guidance only and should not be taken as definitive or exhaustive. The Commonwealth endeavours to keep information current and accurate, however, it may be subject to change without notice. Exporters are encouraged to verify these details with their importers prior to undertaking production/exports. The Commonwealth will not accept liability for any loss resulting from reliance on information contained in this notice.