24 June 2026
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise industry, accredited marine surveyors and authorised officers (AOs) of updates to the instructional material for the inspection of empty bulk vessels for plant exports.
Summary of changes and key points
- The following instructional material has been updated on the Plant Export Operations Manual:
- Exports process instruction: Inspection of empty bulk vessels for export
- Exports work instruction: Inspecting empty bulk vessels for export
- Exports reference: Performance standards – Plant export authorised officer audits.
- Updated requirements will take effect from 1 July 2026. The updates include:
- the requirement that the marine surveyor and AO conducting a bulk vessel inspection must not be employed by the same immediate employer, parent company, management structure or corporation has been removed.
- marine surveyors and AOs may now be employed by the same immediate employer, parent company, management structure or corporation, provided any actual or perceived conflicts of interest are managed at the time of the inspection.
- Draft instructional material is now available on the department’s website to support stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the new requirements and understand their responsibilities in performing their roles.
- From 1 July 2026, the existing versions will be replaced by the updated instructional materials.
Background
We conduct regular review of export policy and relevant instructional materials to ensure they remain accurate and fit for purpose.
Following the review of the Accredited Grain Surveyor Assurance (AGSA) scheme, the requirements for accredited marine surveyors and AOs employed by the same immediate employer, parent company or by companies under the same management have been updated in the instructional materials for inspecting bulk vessels for plant exports.
This change will come into effect on 1 July 2026. Until that date the current versions of the instructional materials must continue to be applied.
Authorised Officer responsibilities
AOs who conduct inspections of empty bulk vessel for plant exports must:
- read and familiarise themselves with the updated instructional material
- comply with the requirements outlined in the updated instructional material.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN, please email the Grain and Seed Exports Program.
Gaylene Podhajski
Acting Assistant Secretary
Plant Exports Branch