Date of issue: 4 April 2024
Date of effect: 30 April 2024
Reference Number: MAA 2024-09
Attention
- Industries—Industry bodies – Dairy Australia – Infant Nutrition Council, Dairy Export Industry Consultative Committee, Australian Food and Grocery Council
- Dairy Export establishments
- Exporters, AEPI and NEXDOC users
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry — Central and Regional offices
Purpose
This Market Access Advice (MAA) notifies industry about changes to health certificate requirements for low-risk milk and milk products from 30 April 2024.
Summary of key points
In July 2023, the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) informed the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (the department) of changes to the import of milk and milk products for human consumption.
From 30 April 2024, consignments classified as ‘low-risk’ by DEFRA will continue to require an export permit to leave Australia but will no longer require an export health certificate to enter Great Britian. These consignments will only require commercial documentation.
Low-risk milk and milk products
Milk, dairy products and colostrum-based products for human consumption are considered low risk if they are shelf stable at ambient temperature and sterilised by either:
- having undergone specific heat treatment in a hermetically sealed container that achieves an F0 value of three or more, or
- having undergone heat treatment prior to aseptic packaging that achieves commercial sterility.
Dairy products and colostrum-based products for human consumption, which are preserved at frozen or chilled temperatures, infant formula and follow on formula are not considered low risk- and will continue to require export health certificate, Australian Government template ZDGB01.
Full details can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/risk-categories-for-animal-and-animal-product-imports-from-non-eu-countries-to-great-britain/tom-risk-categories-for-animal-and-animal-product-imports-from-non-eu-countries-to-great-britain-summary-tables#note-2
What exporters need to do
Under the Export Control Act 2020, it is mandatory to obtain a valid export permit before exporting a consignment of milk and milk products. Exporters will need to raise a Request for Export (REX) and when at FINAL in NEXDOC, request validation by departmental staff, as per the current process.
For low-risk milk and milk products no longer requiring a health certificate, the exporter should select ‘None’ for the Certificate Print indicator, which will prevent a certificate from generating. This must be done prior to requesting validation from the department.
Where an exporter requires a health certificate, (i.e. the consignment also contains milk products not classified as low-risk by DEFRA), they should choose ‘Automatic’ or ‘Hold’ as per their current processes, in order to obtain a certificate. This must be done prior to requesting validation from the department.
Trade to Northern Ireland
Milk and milk products exported to Northern Ireland will continue to use the existing European Union (EU) certificates in accordance with the Windsor Framework agreed between the United Kingdom (UK) and the EU. Exports to Northern Ireland must continue to meet EU regulations.
The department strongly advises exporters to work closely with their importers to ensure product is eligible to be exported to Northern Ireland and to contact the department if there are any difficulties with clearance of consignments.
Micor
- The Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) will be updated to reflect this market access advice. Exporters are encouraged to subscribe to the Micor update service for commodity-specific emails that lists changes that have been made.
Further information
Contact exportstandards@aff.gov.au 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.