Date of issue: 6 April 2020
Date of effect: 6 April 2020
Reference Number: MAA2020-05
Attention:
- Industries—Industry bodies – Dairy Australia, Dairy Export Industry Consultative Committee, Australian Egg Corporation Limited, Seafood Export Consultative Committee, Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC), Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC)
- Export establishments for the following commodities; dairy, egg, seafood, honey and other apiculture products.
- Licensed exporters
- Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment—Central and Regional offices
Purpose
This Market Access Advice (MAA) provides information on the Australia – United Arab Emirates Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the sanitary and phytosanitary conditions for trade in food, processed food, feed, animal by-products, plants and plant products.
The MAA outlines the implementation of amended and new health certification which has been agreed under the MoU’s equivalence determinations.
Summary of key points
Through the MoU, equivalence of Australia’s food safety and food export systems for a number of animal products has been recognised. Recognition is based on the assurances provided in the Australian Export Control Act 1982 (the Act), subordinate legislation, as well as other laws, regulations, standards and related control programs. These equivalency determinations have allowed for the successful negotiation of a number of new and amended health certificates.
List of the commodities which fall under the scope of the MoU
Equivalence decisions
- Live aquaculture animals and animal aquaculture products for human consumption
- Aquaculture products (chilled and frozen) for human consumption
- Fresh (chilled and frozen) meat derived from ovine, caprine, bovine and cervine animals
- Fresh poultry meat (chilled and frozen) derived from galliformes animals
- Meat products (dried, cooked, fermented) derived from ovine, caprine, bovine, cervine and galliformes animals
- Minced meat and meat preparations (frozen or chilled) derived from ovine, caprine, bovine, cervine and galliformes animals
- Eggs and egg products
- Ocean caught wild fisheries products (chilled, frozen, dried, cooked)
- Farmed game meat (frozen or chilled) derived from cervine animals
- Wild game meat (frozen or chilled) derived from cervine animals
- Milk and milk products derived from bovine, caprine and ovine animals
- Hides and pelts derived from bovine, caprine and ovine animals
- Pet food (chilled, frozen, dried, cooked) derived from ovine, caprine, bovine, cervine and galliformes animals
- Rendered meals for animal consumption derived from ovine, caprine, bovines, cervine and galliformes animals
- Honey for human consumption
- Plants and plant products
Amended Certification
The following health certificates have been amended as part of the MoU equivalence determinations:
- Certificate as to Condition (FX46) – with attestation 5116 – Health certificate for products of aquatic animal origin
- Health Certificate (ZD035) – with attestation 5116 – Health certificate for milk and milk products for human consumption.
New Certification
- Certificate as to Condition (EX46EG) – with attestation 5116 – Health certificate for table eggs and egg products
- Declaration and Certification as to Condition (EX188B) – with attestation 5116 – Health certificate for honey and bee products
Additional endorsement 5116 associated with the above certificates will read:
‘The animal product(s) herein described, complies/y with the relevant UAE standards and requirements which have been recognised as equivalent to the Australian standards and requirements as prescribed in the UAE/DAWR Memorandum of Understanding.’
All health certificates outlined in this MAA will be available for use in EXDOC from Monday 6 April 2020. All consignments sent prior to this date can use previously agreed health certification.
The Manual of Importing Country Requirements (MICoR) will be updated to reflect this market access advice.
The department encourages all exporters to work with their importers to ensure that products meet current importing country requirements.
Further information
Contact exportstandards@awe.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.