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Department of Agriculture

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  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Export
  4. Exporting from Australia

Sidebar first - Export

  • Export
    • Exporting from Australia
      • Approved auditors and registered establishments
      • Changes to air cargo screening requirements
      • Documentation, registration and licensing
        • Audit arrangements for export registered establishments
        • Export certification fact sheet
        • Export establishment registration fact sheet
        • Export meat licence fact sheet
      • Application to register an export establishment
      • Export quotas
        • Quota calendar
        • High-quality beef and grain-fed beef quotas (EU and UK)
        • Sheepmeat and goatmeat quotas (EU and UK)
        • European Union and United Kingdom dairy quotas
        • US dairy quotas
        • India almond quota
        • India cotton quota
        • India lentils quota
        • India oranges and mandarins quota
        • India pears quota
        • US beef quotas
        • Indonesian citrus quotas
        • Indonesian feed grains quota
        • Indonesian live cattle quota
        • Indonesian vegetable quotas
        • Japan bovine offal quota
        • Japan pork quota
        • Japan poultry quota
        • Japan preserved meats quotas 1 and 2
        • Japan apple & orange juice quota
        • Japan honey quota
        • Quota usage reports
          • Historical red meat quota position
          • Historical FTA Dairy quota position
          • Historical IA-CEPA quota usage
          • Historical JAEPA quotas usage
          • Historical WTO Dairy quota position
        • RIS: Export tariff rate quota regulatory streamlining
        • Changes to Japan Quotas under the Trans-Pacific Partnership
      • Levies
      • Package assisting small exporters
        • PASE project updates
      • Recall of exported food
        • Food inventory template
      • Food Safety Recognition Agreements
      • Understanding the fit and proper person test
      • Whistleblower hotline
      • Wood packaging for export
    • Export meat modernisation
    • Export registration with China
      • China Import Food Enterprise Registration (CIFER) system
      • China Import Food Enterprise Registration (CIFER) Help
      • Department verification (Article 7 products)
      • Self-registration with China (Article 9 products)
    • Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor)
    • Controlled export goods
      • Dairy products
        • Step-by-step guide
        • Information directory for dairy manufacturers and exporters
        • Export facilitator service
        • Dairy exporters
          • Dairy exporter welcome pack
            • Your dairy export journey
              • Your approved arrangement
              • Importing country requirements
            • Do I need export registration?
              • How to apply to become export registered
            • Forms and templates
            • Resources for dairy exporters
            • Frequently asked questions
          • Dairy product codes
          • Export quotas
        • Export registered establishments
          • Approved arrangements
            • Approved arrangement checklist
          • Audits
          • Exporting dairy products to China
          • Microbiological testing
          • Raw milk temperatures
          • List of dairy establishments
          • Declarations of compliance
          • Transferring goods between establishments
          • EU requirements for dairy products
          • Water testing requirements
        • Forms
        • Industry notices
          • All dairy notices and advices
        • Resources
          • Heat treatment equipment and processes
          • Milk residue survey
        • Dairy Export Industry Consultative Committee
        • Returning products to Australia
        • Recall of exported food
        • Reconsideration and review of decisions
      • Eggs and egg products
        • Step-by-step guide
        • Exporters
          • Egg product codes
        • Export registered establishment
          • Approved arrangements
          • Audits
          • Declarations of compliance
          • Product standards guideline
          • List of egg establishments
          • Transferring goods between establishments
        • Forms
        • Industry notices
          • All egg notices
        • Resources
        • Returning products to Australia
        • Recall of exported food
        • Reconsideration and review of decisions
      • Fish and fish products
        • Step-by-step guide
        • Seafood Export Facilitator service
        • Seafood video resources
        • Exporters
          • Fish product codes
        • Export registered establishments
          • Abalone testing requirements
            • PST in Tasmanian Abalone: Export Eligibility
          • Approved arrangements
          • Audits
          • Shellfish export standards
          • Declarations of compliance
          • Exporting fish products to China
          • Product standards guidelines
          • List of fish establishments
          • Transferring goods between establishments
        • Forms
        • Industry notices
          • 2023
          • 2022
          • 2021
          • 2020
        • Market access advice
          • 2023
          • 2022
          • 2021
          • 2020
        • Resources
        • Returning products to Australia
        • Recall of exported food
        • Reconsideration and review of decisions
      • Non-prescribed goods
        • Export assurance reform
        • Export listed establishment
          • Audits
          • Transfer certificates
        • Exporters
          • Determining a non-prescribed good
        • Forms
          • Application for export listing
          • Application for government export certificate
          • Declaration and certificate as to condition
          • Continuation or amendment of export listing
        • Industry notices
          • 2023
          • 2022
          • 2021
        • Market access advice notices
          • 2023
          • 2022
          • 2021
          • 2020
        • Step-by-step guide
      • Kangaroo meat
      • Live animals
        • Livestock
          • Livestock exporters
            • Become a livestock exporter
            • Exporting a livestock consignment
            • Export licence
            • Approved Arrangements
            • Approved export program
            • Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS)
              • Apply, vary and maintain your ESCAS
            • Independent observers
            • Exemptions
            • TRACE
          • Accredited veterinarians (AAVs)
            • Current AAVs
            • Become an AAV
          • Registered establishments
          • Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock
          • Forms for exporting livestock
          • Reforming live animal exports
          • Regulating live animal exports
            • Independent observer reports
            • Published regulatory decisions
          • Compliance investigations
            • Notifiable mortality incident reports
            • ESCAS investigations
        • Horses
          • Forms
        • Companion animals and other live animals
          • Forms
          • Information for veterinarians
            • Veterinarians preparing companion animals for export
        • Reproductive material
        • Animal welfare in livestock exports
          • Livestock export welfare reviews
            • Northern Hemisphere summer review
            • Heat and cold stress in Bos taurus cattle
          • Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock updates
          • Inspector-General of Animal Welfare
        • Statistics
          • Livestock exports by air
          • All Livestock Exports
          • All non-livestock exports
          • Reports to Parliament
          • All reproductive material exports
        • Export Advisory Notices
        • Contact us
      • Meat and meat products
        • ELMER 3 Electronic Legislation, Manuals and Essential References
          • Extended consultation on cost recovery of exports certification
          • Extended consultation on cost recovery of exports certification
          • Consultation on cost recovery of export certification
          • Independent review of the cost of export certification
          • European Union animal welfare requirements
          • European Union Cattle Accreditation Scheme (EUCAS)
            • EUCAS: Farms
            • EUCAS: Feedlots
            • EUCAS Questions and Answers
            • EUCAS: Legislative basis
            • EUCAS: Saleyards
          • Forms: Meat Export
          • Independent Employer of AAOs Accreditation Scheme
            • Fact Sheet for Abattoir Owners or Operators
            • Fact Sheet for Authorised Officers (AAO's)
            • Fact Sheet for Independent AAO Employers
            • Independent Employer of AAOs Accreditation Scheme (Export meat and meat products)
          • Meat notices
            • 2022
            • 2021
            • 2020
        • Australian meat export statistics
          • Red meat export statistics 1997-2012
          • Red meat export statistics 2013
          • Red meat export statistics 2014
          • Red meat export statistics 2015
          • Red meat export statistics 2016
          • Red meat export statistics 2017
          • Red meat export statistics 2018
          • Red meat export statistics 2019
          • Apply to become an approved certifying body
          • Red meat export statistics 2020
          • Red meat export statistics 2021
          • Red meat export statistics 2022
      • Organic and biodynamic products
        • Organic Exports—a program of reform
        • Step-by-step guide
        • Exporters
        • Organic operators
        • Approved certifying bodies
        • Organic notices
          • 2023
          • 2022
          • 2021
          • 2020
        • National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce
      • Plants and plant products
        • Plant export legislation
        • Norfolk Island plant exports
        • Authorised Officers
          • Job functions and training
            • BVI3001: Export inspection of empty bulk vessels
            • ECI3001: Export inspection of empty containers
            • HOR3002: Export inspection of fruit and vegetables
            • HAS3001: Export inspection of hay and straw
            • HEP4001: Export inspection of horticulture protocol
            • FOP3002: Export inspection of logs
            • GSEP4001: Export inspection of prescribed grain and plant products protocol
            • PGG3001: Export inspection of prescribed grain and plant products
            • FOP3003: Export inspection of processed forest products
            • RBC3001: Export inspection of raw baled cotton
            • FOP3001: Export inspection of woodchips
            • TRE3001: Export phytosanitary treatments
          • Public Register of Authorised Officers
            • Register consent form
          • Request for Plant Exports Inspection Appointment
        • Certificates, declarations and forms
        • Industry Consultative Committees
        • Contact Us
        • Industry Notices
          • 2023
          • 2022
          • 2021
        • Step-by-step guide for exporters
        • Exporters of wood and wood fibre products
        • Horticulture Accredited properties
        • Approved Australian horticulture export protocol treatment facilities
        • Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) Plants
        • Plant Export Operations Manual
        • Plant Exports Management System (PEMS)
        • Returning products to Australia
        • Small Horticultural Products Registered Establishment (SHPRE)
        • Busting Congestion for Plant Exports
    • Documents and certificates
      • Changes to export certificates issued by the department
      • EXDOC - Export Documentation System
        • About EXDOC
        • Approving export permits in EXDOC
        • Cargo Management Re-Engineering for Exports
        • Commodity specific information
        • Contact the EXDOC Help Desk
        • EXDOC Code Sets
        • EXDOC Developments
        • EXDOC exporter interface specifications, errata sets
        • EXDOC software suppliers - Considerations when purchasing EXDOC interface software
        • EXDOC software suppliers contact details
        • EXDOC frequently asked questions
        • Register as an EXDOC user
        • What's new?
      • Next Export Documentation System (NEXDOC)
        • Access NEXDOC
        • NEXDOC benefits and changes
        • NEXDOC help
        • Transitioning commodities to NEXDOC
      • Request export documents
      • Changes to certificates
    • Export notices
    • Export fees and charges
    • Export forms
    • Export documentation systems
      • System notices

Exporting from Australia

​​​​​The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Forestry controls exports of agricultural products. This assures our trading partners that Australian agricultural products meet import requirements.

Efficient regulation of exports is the cornerstone of Australia’s reputation as a​n excellent source of reliable agricultural exports.

The department’s responsibilities and powers are defined in the Export Control Act 2020, Export Control Rules and associated legislation. We recover the cost of providing export services through export fees and charges.

New to agricultural exports?

Understand the steps for exporting goods out of Australia and your responsibilities depending on the product and your role in the export process.

Go to step-by-step guidance

Commodities controlled by the department

Export commodities controlled by the department are listed or ‘prescribed’ in the legislation. Prescribed goods—or goods included in a class of prescribed goods—include:

  • milk and milk products
  • eggs and egg products
  • fish and fish products
  • live animals
  • meat and meat products
  • poultry meat and poultry meat products
  • rabbit and ratite meat and rabbit and ratite meat products
  • wild game meat and wild game meat products
  • organic products
  • plants and plant products
  • wood and woodchips.

Why some products are prescribed in the legislation and others are not

The objective of the legislation is to enable trade by ensuring that export commodities meet importing country requirements and are fit for purpose. If the commodity is a food, it must be:

  • fit for human consumption
  • accurately described and labelled
  • fully traceable, if necessary.

The legislation sets out the list of requirements that must be met by an exporter before prescribed goods can be exported from Australia. Non-prescribed goods are not required to meet these requirements to be exported. However, where required to meet importing country requirements the department can issue export certification for non-prescribed goods.

The main types of non-prescribed goods are:

  • processed foods
  • wool
  • animal feed and pet food
  • animal by-products (such as rendered products, blood products and skins and hides)
  • honey

Some animal or plant by-products may be exempt from government control under the legislation, such as:

  • fish oil for manufacturing or pharmaceutical purposes
  • fish meal for pet food

A separate Export Control Rule exists for each type of prescribed good (for example, the Export Control (Meat and Meat Products) Rules 2021). These specific commodity Rules set out the specifications to be used when determining if a particular product should be deemed as a prescribed good under each commodity type.

See also:​

  • Non-prescribed goods certification
  • Manual of importing country requirements (Micor).

Preparing to export a prescribed commodity

For prescribed products, the Export Control legislation defines the compliance requirements for export businesses.

For the export of live animals please refer to Exporting Live Animals. 

Requirement for registration

All premises (including fishing vessels) where goods prescribed in the legislation are prepared for export must be registered to undertake those operations by the department under the Export Control Act 2020.

Preparation for export includes:

  • slaughter of animals and dressing of carcasses
  • capturing or taking fish
  • processing, packing or storage of goods
  • pre-export quarantine or isolation, treatment and testing of livestock
  • treatment of goods
  • handling or loading of goods.

The business manager must complete an Export registration form (EX26) and the establishment must be constructed and have appropriate equipment and work practises to comply with export legislation. The establishment will be audited to confirm compliance with export requirements.

Once the department provides a letter and certificate of registration, the establishment can produce a product for export. The registration certificate should be prominently displayed in the establishment.

Some importing countries may require Australian establishments to be listed before export.

Fit and proper person test

People participating in Australia’s export industry are subject to an integrity test called the fit and proper person test when applying for export licences and other regulatory approvals.

Compliance with relevant standards

Your establishment and the operations that you conduct in that establishment must meet minimum standards, including export standards and importing country requirements.

Export standards

Compliance with the standards in the export legislation will enable you to access many international markets.

Importing country requirements

Some trading partners place additional requirements on establishments that want to export to them. See importing country requirements on Micor.

For example, the European Union requires that hormone growth promotants (HGPs) or oestradiol and its ester-like derivatives are never used on cattle intended to produce meat products for European markets. The European Union also requires that these cattle have life time segregation from all other cattle. The department manages the European Union Cattle Accreditation Scheme (EUCAS) to enable establishments to meet this requirement.

An importing country may impose a requirement for listing. This means that the importing country will maintain a list of establishments that are allowed to export to them. In some cases, importing countries will expect the establishment to be successfully audited by their own officials. The department regularly hosts delegations of international officials conducting audits on establishments that want to export to these markets.

Approved arrangements

An arrangement documents how a registered establishment will meet its export legal requirements. It becomes an Approved Arrangement (AA) after we approve it.

An AA applies to establishments (including fishing vessels) involved in the export of:

  • dairy
  • egg
  • fish
  • meat.

There are different requirements for livestock AAs.

Plant export-registered establishments don’t have AAs. When you apply to register an establishment to export plant goods, you need to document the establishment's:

  • location, structure and layout
  • hygiene, waste management and pest control
  • operations and functions.

See the Plant Export Operations Manual for what you need to document for plant exports.

Applying for an approved arrangement

You can propose an arrangement to us at the same time you apply to register an establishment. You can use the Export Service to register or vary an establishment registration or AA online.

Cost

We charge a fee to apply for an AA and other related activities – see our Charging Guidelines 2022.

Documentation of export consignments

Exporters of meat, fish, dairy, eggs, grain, horticulture, skins and hides, wool and meat by-products, such as pharmaceuticals, blood and pet food, use electronic certification and may generate their own health certificates and related documents by registering as an Export Documentation System (EXDOC) Electronic Data Interface (EDI) user.

When exporters also register for the Single Electronic Wi​ndow (SEW)​, EXDOC can generate an export declaration number (EDN) necessary for Integrated Cargo System clearance, to streamline the export process.

Specific requirements for certain commodities

Meat export licence

If you export beef, sheep or goat meat, you must obtain a meat export licence.

European Union Cattle Accreditation Scheme (EUCAS)

Beef exported from Australia to the European Union (EU) must be sourced from farm or feedlot properties and saleyards accredited by the department under the European Cattle Accreditation Scheme (EUCAS).

General enquiries

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Last updated: 09 January 2023

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.