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. Exporting meat and meat products
  6. ELMER 3 - Electronic legislation, manuals and essential references
  7. Independent Employer of AAOs Accreditation Scheme

Sidebar first - Export

  • ELMER 3 Electronic Legislation, Manuals and Essential References
    • Extended consultation on cost recovery of exports certification
    • Extended consultation on cost recovery of exports certification
    • Consultation on cost recovery of export certification
    • Independent review of the cost of export certification
    • European Union animal welfare requirements
    • European Union Cattle Accreditation Scheme (EUCAS)
      • EUCAS: Farms
      • EUCAS: Feedlots
      • EUCAS Questions and Answers
      • EUCAS: Legislative basis
      • EUCAS: Saleyards
    • Forms: Meat Export
    • Independent Employer of AAOs Accreditation Scheme
      • Fact Sheet for Abattoir Owners or Operators
      • Fact Sheet for Authorised Officers (AAO's)
      • Fact Sheet for Independent AAO Employers
      • Independent Employer of AAOs Accreditation Scheme (Export meat and meat products)
    • Meat notices
      • 2025
      • 2024
      • 2023
      • 2022
      • 2021
      • 2020

Independent Employer of AAOs Accreditation Scheme

Fact sheets and information herein reflect current legislation and policy with respect to the Independent Employer of AAOs Accreditation Scheme.

Accreditation is a formal, third party endorsement by a national accreditation body of an organisation’s competence, credibility, independence and integrity to perform specific activities. It provides a means to identify a proven, competent evaluator so that the selection of a particular organisation is an informed choice. National accreditation means the organisation can demonstrate to its customer that it has been successful at meeting the requirements of international accreditation standards.

Using the accredited route has the advantage of a single transparent and repeatable approach. Over time this should improve consistency, resulting in better risk management. It provides an alternative means of ensuring the reliability of activities that have the potential to impact on public confidence or the national reputation.

Accreditation by national accreditation bodies such as JAS-ANZ and NATA in Australia means that these evaluating organisations have been assessed against internationally recognised standards to demonstrate their competence, impartiality and performance capability.

Is a scheme developed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to provide for the employment of Australian Government Authorised Officers (AAOs) by independent employment providers. Under the scheme, agencies will supply AAOs to Australian export slaughter establishments to meet EU standards.

The scheme applies to inspectors undertaking on line post mortem inspection on EU plants. The scheme will be certified against ISO/IEC 17020:2012, by engaging Australian registered national accreditation bodies to evaluate independent employers of AAOs as a means of increasing overseas competent authority confidence.

For the EU market, AAOs must be employed by an independent AAO employer approved by the department to supply AAOs.

Document links

  • Fact sheet - Independent AAO Employer
  • Fact sheet - Abattoir Owner or Operator
  • Fact sheet - AAO
  • Information about the Australian Government Authorised Officer application process
  • Authorisation and use of third party authorised officers
  • Independent Employer of AAOs Accreditation Scheme (Export Meat and Meat Products)
  • Australian Export Meat Inspection System Information Package
  • Application to change details of an AAO

Training material

  • Department Instructional Material and performance standards (password protected)*

*materials and standards are available on a password protected site to conditionally approved and approved independent AAO employers, national accreditation bodies and MINTRAC.

To assist you locating information on certain requirements, the following table identifies requirements against each of the relevant documents referenced (marked with an ‘✗’) above.

ItemAuthorised Officer PolicyIndependent Employer of AAOs Accreditation SchemeFact Sheet for IAEsFact Sheet for Abattoir owners/
operators
Fact Sheet for AAOsAEMIS Information PackageInformation on AAO Application ProcessInstructional Material on sharepoint link
Timeframe to implement Independent AAO Employer Model ✗✗✗ ✗  
Options to meet EU listing requirements ✗ ✗ ✗  
Meat inspection activities✗✗✗✗✗ ✗✗
AAO employment restrictions✗✗ ✗ ✗✗ 
Impartiality of IAE✗✗✗     
AAO Models✗  ✗ ✗  

To view the scope of approval of an organisation that has applied to be approved as an Independent AAO Employer, click on the Notice of Determination tab for that company.

Only organisations with a type A accreditation against ISO/IEC 17020:2012 will be considered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to provide a resource pool of AAOs to export registered abattoirs which have EU listing (i.e. the organisation shall meet the criteria of ISO/IEC 17020:2012 annex A.1 (normative). Users should contact the organisation for specific details of the accredited scope.

If 'suspended' is shown against an organisation's name, please refer to that organisation for further details.

Date IssuedCompany NameStatus of determinationNotice of Determination
30.07.2024Food Safety Operations AustraliaApprovedNotice (PDF 71 KB)
22.02.2024Meat Inspectors Pty LtdApprovedNotice (PDF 118 KB)
5.01.2024Labour Solutions Australia Pty LtdApprovedNotice (PDF 67 KB)
09.01.2024ATC Work Smart IncApprovedNotice (PDF 66 KB)
24.01.2024Meat Safety AustraliaApprovedNotice (PDF 100 KB)

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: 23 April 2025

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