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  7. 2023
  8. 2023-30—Grain Exports—Updates to bulk vessel inspection instructional material

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2023-30—Grain Exports—Updates to bulk vessel inspection instructional material

15 June 2023

Purpose

This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise industry and authorised officers of future updates to the Guideline: Inspection of empty bulk vessels for export, Work Instruction: Inspecting empty bulk vessels for export and the Guideline: Supporting documents for plant exports.

Summary of changes and key points

  • From 1 July 2023, bulk vessels will not be considered approved for loading consumable products unless they have been issued a fitness to load certificate signed by a marine surveyor accredited with the Australasian Institute of Marine Surveyors (AIMS).

    Note: Marine surveyor certificates issued on or before 30 June 2023 can be accepted for bulk vessel inspections performed on or after 1 July 2023.
     
  • The name of the marine surveyor who conducted the survey and issued the fitness to load certificate for a vessel must be listed as accredited on the AIMS website.
  • A screenshot of that marine surveyor’s name on the AIMS website must be uploaded in PEMS against the bulk vessel inspection record (as a supporting document) by the authorised officer (AO) who conducted the bulk vessel inspection for that vessel.
  • The instructional material also provides clarification that when holds or ‘other areas’ of the vessel are not completely cleaned, or any issues have not been fully rectified during the inspection, they must not be ‘passed for cross-contamination’. The vessel must be failed, or the vessel approval withheld until the issues are rectified.
  • The updated instructional material will be made available on the Plant Export Operations Manual under an embargo until 1 July 2023. This will provide AOs with the opportunity to become familiar with the changes prior to them taking affect.

    NOTE: Guideline: Inspection of empty bulk vessels for export – version 9.0 and Work Instruction: Inspecting empty bulk vessels for export – version 6.0 will remain current until 11:59 pm on 30 June 2023.

Background

The Accredited Grain Surveyor Assurance (AGSA) scheme will come into effect on 1 July 2023 as part of the updates to the Export Control (Plants and Plant Products) Rules 2021. The intent of the updates is to reduce instances of bulk vessel non-compliance.

Authorised officer responsibilities

  • From 1 July 2023, bulk vessel AOs must, as per the updated Guideline and Work Instruction:
    • verify that a bulk vessel has been assessed as fit to load by a marine surveyor who is accredited by AIMS before proceeding with a bulk vessel inspection
    • upload a screenshot of the marine surveyor’s name on the AIMS accredited grain surveyor list as a supporting document in PEMS for each bulk vessel inspection they conduct
    • not record the inspection result for holds or ‘other areas’ as ‘passed for cross contamination’ if they cannot be completely cleaned or if the issues are not fully rectified during the inspection. The entire vessel must be failed, or the vessel approval withheld until the issues are rectified.
  • Prior to 11:59 pm on 30 June 2023, bulk vessel AOs must continue to use the following instructional material:
    • Guideline: Inspection of empty bulk vessels for export – version 9.0
    • Work Instruction: Inspecting empty bulk vessels for export – version 6.0.

Contact information

If you have any questions regarding this IAN please email Grain and Seed Export Program.

Rossana Carr
Acting Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch

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Page last updated: 19 June 2023

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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