11 December 2014
Purpose
To advise Authorised Officers (AOs) that the Department of Agriculture (the department) has published the Authorised Officer Verification and Performance Standards v2.0 document.
Background
AOs involved in the inspection of prescribed plants and plant products are subject to verifications. Verifications provide the department with assurance that AOs are meeting their obligations. AOs are required to be verified at least once during their appointment period in order to be re-appointed. AO verifications are a requirement for re-appointment, but are separate from the re-appointment process.
Key Points
- The Authorised Officer Verification and Performance Standards v2.0 document details the way the department verifies AOs, and the performance standards against which they are assessed.
- Understanding the verification process and performance standards will help AOs meet their obligations, and prepare for a verification.
- The department has produced a factsheet to announce that the Authorised Officer Verification and Performance Standards document has been published. This factsheet is attached to this notice.
- The Authorised Officer Verification and Performance Standards document is available on the department’s website.
If you have any further enquiries, please contact the Authorised Officer Program at Plant Export Training
Kylie Calhoun
Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations
Factsheet - Verification and performance standards for plant export Authorised Officers
Key points
- The Authorised Officer Verification and Performance Standards 2.0 describe how the department verifies AOs and manages the performance of those who do not satisfy the performance standards.
- The department verifies AOs within six months of their initial appointment, and then at least every 12 months, using a performance-based verification regime.
- AOs who do not satisfy the performance standards are subject to greater scrutiny, including shorter timeframes
between verifications. - Understanding the verification process and performance standards will help AOs meet their obligations.
Verification and performance standards
As part of improving our plant export services, the Department of Agriculture has published details on the way we verify Authorised Officers (AOs), and the performance standards against which they are assessed.
The verification process and performance standards are detailed in the Authorised Officer Verification and Performance Standards 2.0 document
What this means for AOs
The Authorised Officer Verification and Performance Standards 2.0 describe how the department verifies AOs and manages the performance of those who do not satisfy the performance standards.
The performance standards against which AOs are assessed are derived from legislation, the AO Instrument of Appointment, the AO Deed of Obligations, the Plant Exports Operations Manual and Work Instructions. Understanding the performance standards will help AOs meet their obligations, and prepare for a verification.
Verification frequency
The department verifies AOs within six months of their initial appointment, and then at least every 12 months, using a performance-based verification regime. This means that AOs who do not satisfy the performance standards are subject to greater scrutiny, including shorter timeframes between verifications. The department contacts AOs prior to their verification being due.
Next steps
AOs should familiarise themselves with the Authorised Officer Verification and Performance Standards 2.0 in order to meet the required performance standards. More information on the department’s audit and verification activities relating to exporting plants and plant products is available in the Plant Exports Audit and Verification Policy. This document is available on the department’s website.