Issue date 19 August 2002
Purpose
To advise Industry of the export requirements for grain, plant and plant products exports to East Timor.
Background
During the withdrawal of Indonesian authority from East Timor and the uptake of Authority by the United Nations there was an urgent and immediate humanitarian need to ensure the most rapid passage of food and agricultural products directly to the East Timorese and associated aid agencies supplying this humanitarian aid. Additionally, there was a need to ensure the rapid supply of food products to the INTERFET forces, which were providing security during this process.
As a result of this urgent humanitarian need, AQIS had waived the established controls applying to the export of food and agricultural products, that are prescribed goods, from Australia, which were part of the bona fide aid effort or for the INTERFET forces. No general exemption or waiver has been issued for normal commercial consignments destined for East Timor.
In response to the situation and to ensure that exports to East Timor met these requirements, AQIS issued instructions (QON 2000/16) on how to regulate such exports.
Issue
The newly elected East Timorese Government is in the process of developing border control measures to regulate products/goods imported into East Timor. Previous arrangements with UNTAET are no longer required and the normal established controls applying to the export of grain, plants, plant products, fresh fruit and vegetables need to be re-established.
Advice
- The instructions as stated in QON 2000/16 will no longer to be applied to grain and plants, plant products, fresh fruit and vegetables indicated for commercial consignments being exported to East Timor. The waiver that was applied to grain, plants and plant products, fresh fruit and vegetables as part of the bona fide aid effort or for INTERFET forces is no longer applicable.
- Effective immediately, instructions stated in QON 2000/16 will no longer be applied to grain, plants, plant products, fresh fruit, and vegetables. All exports of prescribed goods in to East Timor must comply with the Export Control Act 1982 and its subordinate legislation.