Date of issue: 15 December 2020
Date of effect: 29 January 2021
Reference Number: MAA2020-15
Attention:
- Industries - Industry Bodies – Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC), Australian Honeybee Industry Council (AHBIC)
- Export honey and other apiculture products establishments
- Licensed exporters
- Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment—Central and Regional offices
Purpose
This Market Access Advice (MAA) provides information on:
- A new listing requirement advised by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) for the export of honey and honey products to Saudi Arabia.
- The department’s implementation of a listing process (29 January 2021) for honey processors intending to export to Saudi Arabia.
- Advice for honey processors and associated exporters in contacting the department to provide relevant listing information before the implementation date of this new listing process.
Summary of key points
- On 1 March 2018, Requirements and Conditions For Importing Food into the Kingdom (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) entered into force. These requirements and conditions, which are currently being implemented include provisions that products of animal origin should be sourced from establishments approved and listed by a country’s relevant competent authority.
- In light of this, the SFDA has requested that the department provide it with a list of approved Australian honey processors and has further indicated that once the above-mentioned conditions and requirements are implemented, only honey and honey products from approved and listed processors will be considered by the SFDA for import.
- The department understands that all countries will need to abide by this new listing requirement as is currently the case with a number of other animal commodities.
- A template of the ‘List of approved Establishments for the export of Honey and its products to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’ has also been provided:
- Once published, the list will be accessible via the SFDA’s official website at: https://www.sfda.gov.sa/en/list_countries
Listing of Australian honey processors by the department for the export of honey and honey products to Saudi Arabia
- To meet the SFDA’s new listing requirement, the department will be implementing a listing process for honey processors which intend to export honey and honey products to Saudi Arabia.
- Honey processors which intend to export will be required to contact the department via the NPG program – NPGExports@awe.gov.au by 29 January.
- When applying for listing, please complete and submit the following application form: (full form at Attachment 1 which can also be requested through NPGExports@awe.gov.au)
- Application for Export Listing with the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment for honey and honey products to Saudi Arabia
- Following this date, the department will be providing relevant information to the SFDA via the above-mentioned template.
- This listing process will also be used to provide ongoing updates to the SFDA concerning new processor listing, amendments to current listings and delisting.
- Australian exporters who source product directly from a honey processor(s) who may not have visibility over where their product is exported are encouraged to notify their processor(s) of this new requirement.
- The department notes that once the list is implemented by the SFDA, consignments of honey and honey products from processors not present on the SFDA list will likely not be allowed entry into Saudi Arabia.
- Please note, there are no changes to Australian export certification. Honey for human consumption exported to Saudi Arabia must continue to be accompanied by a HSA1 (manual certificate) with endorsement 5148. Please refer to the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) for further details on certification and supporting documentation requirements.
- The department encourages exporters to work with their importers to ensure that products meet current importing country requirements.
- Micor will be updated to reflect this MAA.
Further information
Contact NPGExports@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.
Attachment 1
Application for Export Listing with the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment for honey and honey products to Saudi Arabia
Section A: Establishment details
Australian Business Name:
Australian Business Number (ABN):
Australian Company Number (ACN):
Are you currently listed with the department as a honey processor? (if ‘yes’ please supply your Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Establishment Number):
Establishment physical address (PO Box will not be accepted):
Phone Number (include area code):
Mobile phone:
Email:
Section B: People in management of the establishment
Person 1
Job title:
Title Given name Family name:
Person 2
Job title:
Title Given name Family name:
Person 3
Job title:
Title Given name Family name:
Section C: Establishment operations and product details
Operational details
Please indicate which of the below operation/s your establishment undertakes:
| Packing and labelling | Yes/no |
| Processing, packing and labelling | Yes/no |
| Ready to sell | Yes/no |
| For repacking | Yes/no |
Source of honey used in final product
| Imported and local production | Yes/no |
| Imported | Yes/no |
| Local production | Yes/no |
| Own honey apiaries | Yes/no |
Type of final product
| Honey and/or edible honey products | Yes/no |
| Bee products | Yes/no |
Section D: Applicant declaration
To be completed by a company representative listed in management of the establishment.
I declare the information provided is true and correct. I acknowledge my obligation to formally notify the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment within 10 working days if these details change.
Signature:
Date:
Full name:
Position:
Section E: Privacy notice
‘Personal information’ means any information or opinion about an identified, or reasonably identifiable, individual. ‘Sensitive information’ is a subset of personal information and means any information or opinion about an individual’s racial or ethnic origin, political opinion or association, religious beliefs or affiliations, philosophical beliefs, sexual preferences or practices, trade or professional associations and memberships, union membership, criminal record, health or genetic information and biometric information or templates.
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment collects your personal information, as defined in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cwlth), to list your establishment on the department’s Establishment Register. The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is authorised under the Export Control (Prescribed Goods—General) Orders 2005, Order 8.05, to collect and store personal information in relation to the export of non-prescribed goods and related purposes. If you fail to provide some or all of your personal information, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment may not be able to process your application.
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment may disclose your personal information to relevant authorities in an importing country and other Australian agencies, persons or organisations where necessary for these purposes, provided the disclosure is consistent with the Privacy Act 1988 and other relevant laws. Your personal information may also be disclosed to relevant employees within your organisation for the purpose of approving your licence, registration or accreditation and to maintain the currency of your personal information for the purpose of the licence, registration or accreditation.
Your personal information will be used and stored in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles. By completing and submitting this form you consent to the collection, use and disclosure of all personal information, including sensitive information, in this form to the relevant authorities in the importing country.
The department has not taken steps to ensure that the relevant authorities in the importing country do not breach the Australian Privacy Principles. This means that:
- relevant authorities in the importing country will not be accountable under the Privacy Act
- you will not be able to seek redress under the Privacy Act
- you may not be able to seek redress in the overseas jurisdiction.
Relevant authorities in the importing country may not be subject to any privacy obligations or to any principles similar to the Australian Privacy Principles. See the department’s Privacy Policy to learn more about accessing or correcting personal information or making a complaint. Alternatively, telephone the department on +61 2 6272 3933.