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Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Export
  4. Controlled export goods
  5. Fish and fish products
  6. Export registered establishments
  7. Audits

Sidebar first - Export

  • Export registered establishments
    • Abalone testing requirements
      • PST in Tasmanian Abalone: Export Eligibility
    • Approved arrangements
    • Audits
    • Shellfish export standards
      • Exporting shellfish – export approved shellfish harvest areas
    • Declarations of compliance
    • Product standards guidelines
    • List of fish establishments
    • Transferring goods between establishments

Audits of fish export establishments

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment audits export registered establishments to verify the procedures documented in their Approved Arrangement (AA) and assure compliance with export legislation.

Audit frequency

For fish establishments, audit frequency is determined by the type of registered establishment. Establishments undertaking higher risk operations are audited more frequently.

For example, a manufacturing establishment is audited more frequently than an establishment that only stores product.

Additional audits

Establishments may be subject to additional audits:

  • as a result of sanctions
  • to support an importing country review
  • to verify that action has been taken to address non-compliance.

Audit scope and outcome

Audits are conducted against a defined scope, made up of all or some topics covered in the establishment’s approved arrangement (AA).

The audit checks and verifies that the controls for each requirement in the AA are in place and effective. All parts of an establishment’s export operations are documented in the establishment’s AA and each topic is audited at least once a year.

If a requirement within the AA is found to be non-compliant, the auditor will issue the establishment with a Corrective Action Request. The establishment must rectify all Corrective Action Requests within a timeframe agreed by the auditor.

Additional sanctions and/or audits may be conducted as a result of non-compliance.

Table 1: Risk and audit frequencies for fish establishments

Type of establishment Risk Audit frequency
  • Fish storage establishments—dry, cool and freezer stores
  • Establishments that freeze fish products
  • Establishments that hold and pack live fish (other than bivalve molluscs)
  • Fishing vessels
Low Annual
  • Establishments that manufacture fish products intended to be cooked or further processed prior to consumption
Medium Annual
  • Fish establishments that manufacture ready-to-eat products
  • Establishments that prepare bivalve molluscs
High 6 monthly

For establishments with operations in more than one risk category, the higher audit frequency applies.

Audits are given an acceptable or unacceptable outcome and the establishment is issued with a full audit report following the audit.

Sanctions

In addition to an increase in frequency of audits, other sanctions may be applied depending on specific circumstances. These sanctions include, but are not limited to:

  • additional conditions and restrictions on processing
  • suspension or revocation of registration
  • withdrawal of export services.

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Page last updated: 27 March 2021

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.

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