Date issued: 5 May 2005
Purpose
This notice is to advise that all establishments where prescribed goods are inspected for export and phytosanitary certification must be registered by 1 July 2005. This requirement is detailed in the new Export Control (Plants and Plant Products) Orders 2005 and the Export Control (Prescribed Goods) Orders that will come into force on the 1 July 2005.
Background
During the Review of the Grains (Plants and Plant Products) Orders in September 2000 it was recommended that all premises be registered, where prescribed goods are inspected for export. There was widespread agreement from industry stakeholders that non-registered establishments could threaten an overseas market for prescribed goods. The general consensus was that the registration of establishments would ensure a more consistent standard of hygiene and pest management throughout the industry. Currently, establishments that export less than 10,000 tonne per year or have less than 30 days of AQIS attendance per year do not have to be registered.
Requirements for Registered Establishments
Three establishment categories have been developed that will impose appropriate controls dependent on the complexity of the operations within the establishment in consultation with Industry. Schedule 2 of the Export Control (Grains, Plants and Plant Product) Orders 2005 provides the requirements for the following three basic categories:
- Large establishments - Bulk commodity terminals, will continue to be required to provide automatic in-line samplers (>400 tonne per hour loading capability) and facilities for authorised officers;
- Medium establishments – will be required to only provide access to appropriate inspection facilities of the minimum standard and shared office facilities; and
- Smaller establishments - dealing with containerised grain in bulk or bags, will be required to only provide access to appropriate inspection facilities of the minimum standard and shared office facilities.
Export Control (Grains, Plants and Plant Products) Orders, Order No. 8 - Preparation, etc in registered establishment
- Prescribed goods must be prepared and presented for inspection in a registered establishment.
The Export Control (Prescribed Goods – General) Orders 2005 Part 4 Division 2 and the Export Control (Plants and Plant Products) Orders 2005 Part 3 and Schedule 2 provides for details of the registration of establishments.
Please contact your local Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) office to request an application form to register an establishment where prescribed goods are inspected for export and phytosanitary certification.
There is no fee to register an establishment for inspecting prescribed goods for export.
Mike Gilbert
Program Manager
AQIS Grain Exports Program
Contact officer: Ray Elson
Telephone: 02 6272 4976
Facsimile: 02 6272 3745