Date of issue: 09 September 2025
Attention
- Inedible meat exporters, manufacturers, agents, freight forwarders.
- Central and regional offices of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department).
Purpose
To notify stakeholders that the Next Export Documentation (NEXDOC) system will replace the Export Documentation (EXDOC) system for inedible meat certification on 27 October 2025.
This transition includes products such as raw pet meat, processed pet food, animal feed containing animal-derived ingredients, rendered products, blood products of animal origin, and technical materials and pharmaceutical products of animal origin.
The transition also includes some manual certification; these will be detailed in Micor updates.
Key points
- Inedible meat export certification that is currently available in EXDOC will be issued through NEXDOC from 27 October 2025.
- From 27 October 2025 certificate requests cannot be raised in EXDOC.
- A small number of certificates will remain manual and will not transition to NEXDOC.
- Advice on which manual certificates are transitioning to NEXDOC will be progressively available on Micor from 27 October 2025. If you have any additional questions about certification, please contact the NEXDOC helpdesk at NEXDOC@aff.gov.au.
- Exporters who currently access manual certification should register in NEXDOC in preparation for transition.
- The department is engaging key trading partners on the transition to NEXDOC.
- The NEXDOC certificates will be printed on plain paper.
Transition period
From 27 October 2025 exporters or their agents will need to lodge new export documentation for inedible meat in NEXDOC. Request for Permits (RFPs) raised in EXDOC prior to 27 October 2025 that are not complete (EXDOC status COMP) will need to follow the below processes.
Consignments to the People’s Republic of China
- RFPs in EXDOC for inedible meat to China will need to be complete and the certificate printed prior to 5.00pm (AEDT) 26 October 2025.
- All certificates for China must be issued through NEXDOC from 27 October 2025.
- China has allowed for a short transition period for sea freight consignments to present EXDOC documentation issued prior to 27 October 2025.
- If you have an EXDOC certificate that requires replacing after the implementation date, please contact NEXDOC@aff.gov.au.
- If you experience issues with clearance of your consignment, please contact NEXDOC@aff.gov.au.
Consignments to all other countries
- All new export requests must be submitted through NEXDOC from 27 October 2025.
- RFPs at ORDR status in EXDOC must be resubmitted in NEXDOC from 27 October 2025.
- Exporters will have until 8 December to finalise RFPs in EXDOC that are at INSP or HCRD status. These must be completed (moved to COMP) and certificates printed before the cut-off.
- After this date any inedible meat RFPs not at COMP status will need to be re-submitted as new requests in NEXDOC.
- For replacement of certificates issued prior to 27 October 2025, contact NEXDOC@aff.gov.au.
- If you experience any clearance issues with your consignment, please contact the department at NEXDOC@aff.gov.au.
Manual certificate requests
- Requests for manual certificates that are transitioning to NEXDOC must be lodged by COB 22 October 2025 prior to NEXDOC transition to ensure they are received before implementation.
- If a certificate request is not received by 5.00pm AEDT on 22 October 2025 you may not receive it prior to transition and will be directed to request through NEXDOC.
- If you are unsure whether the certificate you require is transitioning to NEXDOC please contact NEXDOC@aff.gov.au.
Key notes about certification transition
- NEXDOC certificates must be printed on plain A4 white paper. The addition of a Quick Response (QR) code on these certificates replaces security paper.
- Any NEXDOC certificates printed on security paper may result in detained consignments and the department will not be able to assist in the release.
- As a certificate holder, you must not download PDF files from NEXDOC or reproduce multiple copies of the same certificates. We will not facilitate consignments detained due to misuse of NEXDOC certificates (accidental or otherwise).
- For more information on certification changes, please visit our website.
- The department makes every effort to communicate the NEXDOC transition changes to our trading partners ahead of roll out. In the case of inedible meat commodities this may be the first time some trading partners will be presented with NEXDOC certificates. Should you experience any questions at the border relating to these changes please contact NEXDOC@aff.gov.au.
Software users
The department continues to work with software providers in preparation for the release of NEXDOC on 27 October 2025.
It is important that you work closely with your software provider to ensure your system needs are met and you are well positioned to commence using NEXDOC from 27 October 2025.
Register for Inedible Meat in NEXDOC
Be ready for the changeover and register for inedible meat in NEXDOC. Registration is open in NEXDOC for exporters, agents and freight forwarders.
Access the online service portal and register.
If you are an inedible meat exporter or EXDOC user, you will need to register via the department’s online service portal.
If you are already a registered NEXDOC user, you will need to add the inedible meat commodity to your account.
Further Support
- For more information on the system please see: NEXDOC benefits and changes webpage.
- For help, guides and instructions: NEXDOC help - DAFF (agriculture.gov.au).
- Information sessions are also held regularly, please see our website for session times: Next Export Documentation System (NEXDOC).
Caroline Martin
Assistant Secretary
Digital Export Branch
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry