25 March 2025
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise industry and authorised officers (AOs) of updates to the instructional material for the inspection of prescribed grain and plant products for export.
Summary and key points
- The following instructional material has been updated on the Plant Export Operational Manual
- Exports process instruction: Inspection of prescribed grain and plant products for export
- Exports work instruction: Inspecting prescribed grain and plant products for export.
- Updates include
- the inclusion of a policy for the inspection of consignments of 10kg or less
- clarification of the requirements for the inspection of goods in bulka bags
- clarification of the requirements for AOs recording the inspection results for product being exported in bulk vessel holds
- AOs must record the ‘number and type of pests/contaminants’ in the remarks field of the bulk vessel loading running record
- AOs must record whether the pests/contaminants were over or under tolerance in the remarks field of the bulk vessel loading running record
- the supervising AO must record whether the pests/contaminants were over or under tolerance on the bulk into ship hold inspection record at the completion of loading
- clarification of the requirements for AOs recording the inspection results for product being exported in containers (bulk or packaged goods)
- AOs must record the ‘number and type of pests/contaminants’ in the remarks or comments field of the grain and plant product inspection record, or separately in a notebook and upload this as a supporting document in the Plant Exports Management System (PEMS)
- AOs must record whether the pests/contaminants were over or under tolerance
- information to make it clear to the AO which inspection record they need to use when.
Implementation
Industry and AOs must comply with the new instructional material from 28 April 2025.
Certification: Export documentation will be assessed against the new instructional material for consignments inspected from 28 April 2025.
AO training: AO candidates will be trained against the new material from 25 March 2025.
AO assessments: AO candidates will be assessed against the new material from 28 April 2025.
AO audits: AOs will be audited against the new material for consignments inspected from 28 April 2025.
Important: Industry and AOs can begin to use the new material from today, however it is not compulsory until the implementation dates listed above.
Background
We have updated the exports process instruction and work instruction to provide information that directs and supports industry and AOs to understand their responsibilities and perform their roles relating to the export of prescribed grain and plant products from Australia, to meet legislative and importing country requirements.
We are committed to continually improving our instructional material so that it is clear, easy to follow and appropriate for our stakeholders.
Authorised officer responsibilities
AOs must comply with the new instructional material from the date of implementation.
AOs are able to contact their local Regional Assurance Manager (RAM) should they require support in meeting the updated and clarified requirements.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN, please email Grain and Seed Exports Program or call 02 6272 3229.
Jemma Martin
Assistant Secretary
Plant Exports Branch