Date of issue: 26 November 2019
Date of effect: 14 December 2019
Reference Number: MAA2019-08
Attention:
- Industries - Industry Bodies – Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC), Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC)
- Export honey and other apiculture products establishments
- Licensed exporters
- State regulatory authorities
- Department of Agriculture—Central and Regional offices
Purpose
To advise of changes to export certification requirements for honey and other edible apiculture products exported to the European Union (EU). Honey and other edible apiculture products exported to the EU, from 14 December 2019 onwards are required to be accompanied by new export certification.
Summary of key points
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/628, published 8 April 2019, implements changes to export certificates for honey and other edible apiculture products. Regulation 2019/628 does not implement any new eligibility requirements for Australian honey and edible apiculture products exported to the EU.
The EU has granted a transitional period. Certificates which are completed and signed up to and including 13 December, will be accepted up to 13 March 2020. New certificates will need to be used from 14 December 2019.
The Department of Agriculture is in the process of updating the affected EU certificates in response to the new regulation. The new regulation shall come into force on 14 December 2019. Certificates will be updated systematically, with priority decided based on history of trade.
The department will release a Market Access Advice closer to the implementation date, outlining the certification available to exporters.
The following English and bilingual certificate templates are affected by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/628.
| Template | Current Certificate Title * | Language |
|---|---|---|
| EUHGB | CERTIFICATE FOR IMPORTS OF HONEY, ROYAL JELLY AND OTHER APICULTURE PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION | English |
| EUHNL | CERTIFICATE FOR IMPORTS OF HONEY, ROYAL JELLY AND OTHER APICULTURE PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION | Dutch |
| EUHFR | CERTIFICATE FOR IMPORTS OF HONEY, ROYAL JELLY AND OTHER APICULTURE PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION | French |
| EUHDE | CERTIFICATE FOR IMPORTS OF HONEY, ROYAL JELLY AND OTHER APICULTURE PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION | German |
| EUHIT | CERTIFICATE FOR IMPORTS OF HONEY, ROYAL JELLY AND OTHER APICULTURE PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION | Italian |
| EUHPL | CERTIFICATE FOR IMPORTS OF HONEY, ROYAL JELLY AND OTHER APICULTURE PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION | Polish |
| EUHPT | CERTIFICATE FOR IMPORTS OF HONEY, ROYAL JELLY AND OTHER APICULTURE PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION | Portuguese |
| EUHES | CERTIFICATE FOR IMPORTS OF HONEY, ROYAL JELLY AND OTHER APICULTURE PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION | Spanish |
* The new certificates shall be renamed to:
OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE FOR THE ENTRY INTO THE UNION FOR PLACING ON THE MARKET OF HONEY AND OTHER APICULTURE PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
The template number shall not change. As stated above, this list of certificates will be updated systematically, with priority decided based on history of trade. The English language certificate [EUHGB] shall be available from 14 December 2019.
Further information
Contact Export Standards 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.