Date of issue: 30 April 2024
Date of effect: 30 April 2024
Reference Number: MAA 2024-02
Attention
- Industries—Industry bodies – Australian Honey Bee Industry Council
- Honey export listed establishments
- Exporters NEXDOC users
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry — Central and regional offices
Purpose
This Market Access Advice notifies industry about changes to health certificate requirements for honey and apiculture products to Great Britain (GB) from 30 April 2024.
Summary of key points
In July 2023, the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) informed the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (the department) of changes to the import conditions of honey and apiculture products for human consumption.
According to DEFRA’s new classification, honey and apiculture products from Australia are classified as low risk.
From 30 April 2024, the following criteria will be applicable for consignments classified as ‘low risk’ by DEFRA:
- minimal routine border controls
- no health certification required
- no routine physical border checks.
The department will not be issuing the NGBA (02/23) certificate for exporting honey and apiculture products to Great Britain from 30 April 2024 in response to the changed import conditions for Australian honey and apiculture products.
From 30 April 2024, exporters are no longer required to raise a NEXDOC request for export (REX) for edible honey and apiculture products export to Great Britain (UK excluding Northern Ireland).
There are no changes to other import conditions. All other importing country requirements will remain the same including establishment listing with DEFRA.
The department encourages exporters to work closely with their importers to ensure exporting honey products to Great Britain meet the new import conditions. Full details of Great Britain import conditions can be viewed on the GB government website.
The Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) will be updated to reflect this market access advice. Exporters are encouraged to subscribe to the Micor update service for commodity-specific emails that lists changes that have been made.
Trade to Northern Ireland
Trade to Northern Ireland must continue to use the existing European Union (EU) certificates in accordance with the Windsor Framework agreed between the United Kingdom (UK) and the EU. Exports to Northern Ireland must continue to meet EU regulations and marketing standards.
The department strongly advises exporters to work closely with their importers to ensure product is eligible to be exported to Northern Ireland as above and to contact the department if there are any difficulties with clearance of consignments.
Further information
Contact exportstandards@aff.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.