Exports systems
The department has designed a modern, streamlined, enhanced exports traceability system to support overseas market access for exports of agricultural products.
The program includes developing a new export documentation system (NEXDOC), modernising the existing IT system platforms of EXDOC (Export Documentation System) and enhancing the Tracking Animal Certification Exports (TRACE) system and the Plant Exports Management System (PEMS).
Modernisation will strengthen Australia’s reputation as a provider of high-quality agricultural commodities, underpinned by robust, digitally enhanced services and regulatory practices. This enables industry to be more competitive in international markets through reduced regulatory costs while maintaining our strong regulatory reputation.
Australian export industries will benefit from upgraded systems providing modern, sophisticated platforms capable of integration with supporting systems and new technologies. Export documentation supported within the systems include:
- export permits as required by the Export Control Act
- export certificates as required by importing country authorities
- extra certificates that support the export (such as transit certificates).
Modernisation of the export documentation system will strengthen Australia’s reputation as a provider of high-quality agricultural commodities, underpinned by robust, digitally enhanced services and regulatory practices. This enables industry to be more competitive in international markets through reduced regulatory costs while maintaining our strong regulatory reputation.
Transition information
From Monday 25 November 2024, Wool (including feathers) will transition onto NEXDOC with registrations now open.
Wool export certification (including feathers ) that is currently available in EXDOC will be issued through NEXDOC starting 25 November 2024.
From 5.00pm Sunday 24 November 2024 (AEDT) new certificate requests cannot be raised in EXDOC. Important transition information is detailed below:
Consignments to the People’s Republic of China
- RFPs in EXDOC for wool and feathers to China will need to be complete and the certificate printed prior to 5.00pm (AEDT) 24 November 2024.
- All certificates for China must be issued through NEXDOC from 25 November 2024.
- China has allowed for a short transition period for sea freight consignments to present EXDOC documentation issued prior to 25 November 2024.
- If you have an EXDOC certificate that requires replacing after the implementation date, you will need to contact the EXDOC Helpdesk email exdoc.helpdesk@aff.gov.au
- If you experience issues with clearance of your consignment, please contact npgexports@aff.gov.au
Consignments to all other countries
There is a transition period for other importing countries:
- Other trading partners may not accept EXDOC certification after 25 January 2025.
- RFPs that are at INSP, FINL or HCRD status must be set to COMP as soon as possible after transition.
- RFPs at ORDR status in EXDOC cannot be progressed from 25 November 2024.
- If you experience issues with clearance of your consignment, please contact npgexports@aff.gov.au
To use NEXDOC, you will need to register as a user via the online service portal, even if you are using a third party software to access the system.
From Monday 25 November 2024, Skins and Hides (including trophies) will transition onto NEXDOC with registrations now open.
Skins and hides export certification (including trophies) that is currently available in EXDOC will be issued through NEXDOC starting 25 November 2024.
From 5.00pm Sunday 24 November 2024 (AEDT) new certificate requests cannot be raised in EXDOC. Important transition information is detailed below:
Consignments to the People’s Republic of China
- RFPs in EXDOC for skins and hides to China will need to be complete and the certificate printed prior to 5.00pm (AEDT) 24 November 2024.
- All certificates for China must be issued through NEXDOC from 25 November 2024.
- China has allowed for a short transition period for sea freight consignments to present EXDOC documentation issued prior to 25 November 2024.
Consignments to all other countries
There is a transition period for other importing countries:
- Other trading partners may not accept EXDOC certification after 25 January 2025.
- RFPs that are at INSP, FINL or HCRD status must be set to COMP as soon as possible after transition.
- RFPs at ORDR status in EXDOC cannot be progressed from 25 November 2024.
To use NEXDOC, you will need to register as a user via the online service portal, even if you are using a third party software to access the system.
Fish and Fish products are now live on NEXDOC.
- EXDOC has now closed for certification for consignments of fish.
- You will need to be registered for fish in NEXDOC to raise export documentation to continue exporting fish and fish products.
- To lodge a REX in NEXDOC, see the Fish – How to lodge a Request for Export (REX) for fish and fish products on the NEXDOC Help page.
Fish consignments to the People’s Republic of China
- All certificates for the People’s Republic of China must be issued through NEXDOC. The REX (Request for Export) must be lodged and printed in NEXDOC.
- Certificates printed from EXDOC for consignments arriving in China after 30 September 2024 may not be accepted by China’s import authorities, and the department may not be able to facilitate clearance at the border.
- If you have an EXDOC certificate that requires replacing, you will need to contact the EXDOC Helpdesk email - exdoc.helpdesk@aff.gov.au
Fish consignments to all other countries
- All new consignment for fish must be raised through NEXDOC.
- There is a transition / grace period for other importing countries
- Any RFP in EXDOC at INIT, INSP, FINL or HCRD status has until 29 November 2024 for the RFP to be set to complete ‘COMP’ status and the certificate printed.
- EXDOC certification will not be accepted after 29 November 2024. RFP’s issued through EXDOC will have to be set to COMP and certificates printed in enough time for the goods to be cleared by the importing country before 29 November 2024.
- Any RFP not at COMP status and the certificate printed not by 29 November 2024 will need to be lodged as a new REX in NEXDOC.
Automated export permit issuers
If you are an existing authorised approved quality assurance (AQA) user in EXDOC, when you register as a client group or exporter in NEXDOC (formerly EDI) you will need to apply for the permission as an automated export permit issuer (AEPI) for NEXDOC.
If you would like to become an AEPI in NEXDOC, you will need to register as a client group or exporter, and in addition, request to be an AEPI.
For further information please see the published advice to industry at this link – Automated Export Permit Issuers.
Support available
We have organised Drop-In Sessions, available for exporters, agents, software and other interested industry people to walk through the steps to register their organisation on NEXDOC.
The sessions are available at these times:
- Thursday 14 November 2024, 11.00am – 12.00pm (AEDT)
- Monday 18 November 2024, 2.30pm – 3.30pm (AEDT)
- Wednesday 20 November 2024, 2.00pm – 3.00pm (AEDT)
- Tuesday 26 November 2024, 1.30pm -2.30pm (AEDT)
- Thursday 28 November 2024, 10.30am – 11.30am (AEDT)
- Monday 2 December 2024, 11.30am – 12.30pm (AEDT)
- Wednesday 4 December 2024, 11.00am -12.00pm (AEDT)
- Tuesday 10 December 2024, 2.00pm – 3.00pm (AEDT)
- Thursday 12 December 2024, 11.30am – 12.30pm (AEDT)
Find out more on transitioning commodities to NEXDOC.
Background
The department is incrementally onboarding commodities to NEXDOC.
There are many benefits for exporters to use the system including:
- improved product traceability through increased visibility across the whole export supply chain
- modern technology that integrates with other systems
- automated instead of manual processes
- 24/7 self-service
- improved reporting
- interactive workflow processes
- ability to generate an export certification with a unique QR code as well as the certificate number, to improve tracking and security
- ability to liaise with the department directly through the system.
For information on our other exports systems visit:
Access the new system
When your commodity is available, you can access the NEXDOC system through:
- the online service portal on the department’s website, or
- third-party software.
If you are using a third-party software solution, ensure you discuss the transition with your provider. To understand more about user profiles, please visit NEXDOC Help.
Find out more on how to access NEXDOC.