9 October 2026
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) advises plant export stakeholders of upcoming changes to the Plant Exports Management System (PEMS).
Summary of changes and key points
- On 12 October 2026, PEMS is transitioning to the department’s TradeClear.
- This means the way users access PEMS will change. Users will need to have a TradeClear account to continue accessing PEMS.
- PEMS will also be unavailable between 8:00 pm AEDT, Sunday 11 October 2026 and 1:00 am AEDT, Monday 12 October 2026.
- During the system outage, users will be unable to initiate or submit an inspection record in PEMS.
- When you first access PEMS through TradeClear, you will need to connect your PEMS account.
- Additional information can be found in IAN 2026-49 and Connect to PEMS as an existing user, and at PEMS – What’s changing.
Background
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is moving PEMS onto TradeClear. TradeClear provides:
- a single access point for export and biosecurity import applications and services
- single sign-on across applications
- simplified navigation an improved efficiency
- enhanced account security, including Multi Factor Authentication (MFA)
Users will be able to manage their accounts in one place, including:
- account access
- roles and responsibilities
- certifications and accreditations.
This change will support the future onboarding of plant commodities onto the Next Export Documentation System (NEXDOC).
Industry responsibilities
- Familiarise yourself with the timing of the expected system outage and its impacts. We recommend having export documentation completed prior to the outage window, if possible.
- Create a TradeClear account, if you do not already have one, to continue accessing PEMS from 12 October 2026.
- We recommend you create your TradeClear account using the same email you use to login to PEMS. This will enable us to automatically connect your PEMS account when the transition occurs.
- If you choose to create your TradeClear account with a different email to your PEMS login, when you login after 12 October 2026, you will need to connect your account using a simple verification process.
- From 12 October, the first time you access PEMS through TradeClear, you will need to connect your PEMS account. If the email you have used to create your TradeClear account matches the email you use in PEMS, this connection will happen automatically when you select the PEMS service. If you have used a different email address, you will need to complete a simple verification process. See Connect to PEMS as an existing user for more information.
- Users who previously bookmarked PEMS will need to recreate this bookmark following the transition.
- If you apply for PEMS access prior to 12 October and have not received a confirmation email from the department before the transition date, you will need to resubmit your application through TradeClear.
Support and resources
Help is available on TradeClear.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN, please email TradeClearSupport@aff.gov.au.
Jemma Martin
Assistant Secretary
Plant Exports Branch