Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Drought, disaster and rural support
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Levies and charges on agricultural products
    • Mouse infestation advice
    • Plant health
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Report a concern
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2025-26

    Budget 2025-26

    The 2025–26 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 25 March 2025.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Export
  4. Controlled export goods
  5. Dairy products
  6. Resources

Sidebar first - Export

  • Dairy products
    • Step-by-step guide
    • Information directory for dairy manufacturers and exporters
    • Export facilitator service
    • Dairy exporters
      • Dairy exporter welcome pack
        • Your dairy export journey
          • Your approved arrangement
          • Importing country requirements
        • Do I need export registration?
          • How to apply to become export registered
        • Forms and templates
        • Resources for dairy exporters
        • Frequently asked questions
      • Dairy product codes
      • Export quotas
    • Export registered establishments
      • Approved arrangements
        • Approved arrangement checklist
      • Audits
      • Exporting dairy products to China
      • Microbiological testing
      • Raw milk temperatures
      • List of dairy establishments
      • Declarations of compliance
      • Transferring goods between establishments
      • EU requirements for dairy products
      • Water testing requirements
    • Forms
    • Industry notices
      • All dairy notices and advices
    • Resources
      • Heat treatment equipment and processes
      • Milk residue survey
    • Dairy Export Industry Consultative Committee
    • Returning products to Australia
    • Recall of exported food
    • Reconsideration and review of decisions

Resources for dairy exporters

​We support dairy exporters to access markets overseas, but other government agencies and industry groups also have a role in exporting from Australia.

If you are involved in exporting dairy products, you are responsible for understanding your regulatory obligations.

There are a range of resources available outside of our website that may be useful for your manufacturing and export activities.

Codes and standards

Australian Harmonised Export Commodity Codes

The Australian Harmonised Export Commodity Codes (AHECC) are designed for use by exporters, customs brokers and freight forwarders in the classification of goods when providing export declarations to the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs.

The Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding system is generally referred to as the ‘Harmonised System’ (HS). It is a multi-purpose international product classification nomenclature developed by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and is used to classify traded products.

The customs tariff classification adds two sets of two digit codes to the six–digit international HS. Australia uses an eight-digit code to classify goods for export. The first six align with international classification standards, while the last two digits are specific to Australian exports.

The classifications are not static and are subject to change. It is very important to keep up-to-date with any changes as they occur. The AHECC is usually updated every January and July and up-to-date versions of the classifications can be found at the Australian Bureau of Statistics website.

Failure to properly classify your product could lead to incorrect taxation on your exports and the potential loss of the product.

Codex Alimentarius

The Codex Alimentarius (CODEX) is the harmonised international food standards, which protect consumer health and promote fair practices in food trade.

CODEX requirements include guidance for a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan to meet export requirements.

Food Standards Code

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code is developed and administered by Food Standards Australia New Zealand.

The Code lists requirements for foods such as:

  • additives
  • food safety
  • labelling
  • genetically modified (GM) foods.

Enforcement and interpretation of the Code is the responsibility of state and territory departments and food agencies within Australia and New Zealand.

The Code includes general food, food product, food safety and primary production standards.

User guides to the Code are available to help industry comply with the Code. The guides, unlike the standards, are not legally binding.

Publications

These publications detail standards and procedures for preparing dairy products for export.

Heat treatment equipment and processes

Guidelines for food safety — Validation and verification of heat treatment equipment and processes are used to implement and audit food safety standards and practices.

We encourage you to use these procedures in your quality management systems.

These guidelines are published by Australia New Zealand Dairy Authorities' Committee (ANZDAC).

Microbiological requirements

Export registered dairy establishments must meet and comply with the food standards code requirements: Microbiological limits for food (Standard 1.6.1) | Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the compendium: Compendium of Microbiological Criteria for Food | Food Standards Australia New Zealand.

In addition to Food standards code requirements, establishments must also ensure they meet any importing country requirements, for more details, please visit the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) website. Please note that export requirements may vary from domestic requirements.

Industry groups

Dairy Australia

Dairy Australia works collaboratively with Australian and international government regulatory agencies and service suppliers to ensure a preventative approach to food safety across the integrated supply chain.

Dairy Australia is one of the peak industry bodies that represent the dairy industry and farmers and play a key role in our consultative process.

A web portal has been designed to assist dairy businesses wishing to supply to export markets. Visit the trade ready site to understand what is required to become trade ready.

Dairy Export Industry Consultative Committee

The Dairy Export Industry Consultative Committee (DEICC) is the principal consultative committee for the department and the Australian dairy export industry.

It includes representation from:

  • small and large dairy industries
  • exporters
  • peak industry bodies including Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF), Australian Dairy Industry Council (ADIC), Australian Dairy Products Federation (ADPF) and Dairy Australia
  • the department.

State agencies

State regulatory authorities may also be audit service providers under agreed service delivery arrangements with us.

Dairy agency websites:

  • NSW — New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
  • QLD — Safe Food Production Queensland
  • SA — Dairy Safe South Australia
  • TAS — Tasmanian Dairy Industry Authority
  • VIC — Dairy Food Safety Victoria
  • WA — Health Department of Western Australia

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip
Page last updated: 20 September 2024

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram