Date of issue: 24 November 2022
Date of effect: Immediate
Reference Number: MAA2022-11
Related: MAA 2021-24 and MAA 2020-15
Attention
- Industries — Industry bodies — Australian Food and Grocery Council, Australia Honey Bee Industry Council
- Export honey and other apiculture products establishments
- Exporters
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry — Central and Regional offices
Purpose
This Market Access Advice provides an update on the new export listings, as advised by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) for the export of honey and edible honey products and bee products to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Key points
On 17 November 2022, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) listed 16 Australian honey processors following the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s (the department) submission of a list of honey processing establishments. Being listed gives these establishments approval for their products to be imported into Saudi Arabia.
The listed establishments can be checked here:
https://www.sfda.gov.sa/sites/default/files/2022-11/Australia-honey.pdf
Exporters who export honey and honey products from establishments that are not on the list do so at their own commercial risk. Any product from non-listed honey processors may be detained at the border in Saudi Arabia and the department will be unable to facilitate release.
Honey processors interested in market access to Saudi Arabia are required to contact the department via the NPG program – NPGexports@aff.gov.au. The SFDA listing process allows the department to provide ongoing updates to the SFDA concerning new processor listing, amendments to current listings and delisting.
Certification
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 03/21 (manual certificate) with endorsement 5148. Please refer to the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) for further details on certification and supporting documentation requirements: Saudi Arabia | Micor (agriculture.gov.au)
Micor
Micor will be updated to reflect this market access advice. The department encourages users of Micor to subscribe to the Micor update service for a commodity specific email that lists changes that have been made in the preceding week.
The department encourages exporters to work with their importers to ensure that products meet current importing country requirements.
Further information
Contact ExportStandards@aff.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.