Step 1: What you need to do to be ready and approved to export
The regulation that applies to you will depend on the role you play in the export process. Please be aware that you can have more than one role.
How to register an establishment to process, prepare or store eggs and egg products for export
To process, prepare or store eggs and egg products for export, you must have specific approvals in place.
See the key steps, glossary and links to relevant information. These will help you understand the requirements for registering an establishment for the export of prescribed eggs and egg products.
Once you have the necessary approvals, find out how to export eggs and egg products.
Fees and charges
Fees will apply for some of these steps. The costs will vary depending on the method of export. More information on our fees is available in the Charging Guidelines.
Determine importing country requirements
You should research the importing country requirements to ensure products and commodities can be accepted for import into specific overseas countries.
We maintain the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) as a resource to assist in this research, however consultation with the importer or relevant authority is also encouraged to determine their specific requirements.
Austrade's Market Search Tool may also provide additional information on the market you wish to enter.
If the country or countries you intend to prepare product for have requirements in addition or different to the requirements of Australia’s export legislation (for example, stricter limits on heavy metals in food), you will need to document how you are going to meet these importing country requirements in your approved arrangement (AA).
If there is no agreed certification for the importing country, the department may assist in negotiating market access.
For organic and/or bio-dynamic goods, if there is no equivalence arrangement for the importing country listed on Micor, you may wish to contact an approved certifying body to determine if you can gain market access through private industry negotiations with the importing country’s relevant authority.
Apply for organic certification
If the export is to be sold as organic or bio-dynamic, your property must be certified organic by an approved certifying body. This shows that it complies with the National Standard for Organic and Bio-dynamic Produce.
Note in some cases it can take up to 3 years to receive organic certification. Certification typically lasts for 12 months.
- Certification granted
Apply for establishment registration and approved arrangement (AA)
Your establishment must have an AA and be registered with us if it is the premise you intend to use for the preparation of prescribed goods for export. You as the occupier may apply for registration and for an approved arrangement by submitting an EX26a form.
If you are storing or preparing more than one commodity (for example, fish, eggs, dairy and/or meat), you only need to submit a single application and document a single arrangement.
If you wish to add any additional registered operations or functions in future, you will need to submit an EX26b form.
We have an initial consideration period of 120 days from receiving a complete application until we must decide on whether your establishment will be registered.
The initial consideration period may be extended to accommodate for the time taken for you to comply with any requests, and for any testing of samples.
- Arrangements approved and establishment registered
When you have received our notification of the date of approval of your registration and arrangement, you can start preparing or storing eggs and egg products for export.
Registered establishment listing
For some markets, there is a requirement to be listed with importing countries. For specific importing country requirements, visit Micor.
- Included in overseas listing
Apply for an approved arrangement variation or change to establishment registration
If there is a significant variation to your AA, or a significant change to your establishment (such as a change to product, procedures or technology being used), you as the occupier must apply for an AA variation and/or a change to your establishment registration by submitting an EX26b form. Any non-significant variations can be made to the AA without our approval provided the change to your AA is documented and available to an auditor as soon as practicable after you have made the change.
Maintain establishment registration and approved arrangement
Under Australia’s export legislation, as an occupier you must ensure you maintain operational hygiene requirements within your establishment. While registered, we will conduct audits of your compliance with the legislation and your AA at least once yearly. You as the occupier must demonstrate use of the procedures and processes required by:
- Your AA
- The Act and relevant Export Control Rules
- The FSANZ Food Standard Code
- Your specific country listings or the additional controls documented in your AA to ensure your product meets importing country requirements.
If certified organic, the approved certifying body will also audit your establishment at least once yearly.
- Your establishment can be used to process, prepare and store eggs and egg products for export
Once you have these required approvals in place, and for as long as you maintain those approvals, your establishment can be used to process, prepare or store eggs and egg products for export.
Find out how to become an exporter of eggs and egg products.
How to become an exporter of eggs and egg products
To export eggs and egg products, you must have specific approvals in place before you submit a consignment application.
See the key steps, glossary and links to relevant information. These will help you understand the requirements for requirements for becoming an exporter of prescribed eggs and egg products.
Once you have the necessary approvals, find out how to export eggs and egg products.
Fees and charges
Fees will apply for some of these steps. The costs will vary depending on the method of export. More information on our fees is available in the Charging Guidelines.
Determine importing country requirements
You should research the importing country requirements to ensure products and commodities can be accepted for import into specific overseas countries.
We maintain the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) as a resource to assist in this research, however consultation with the importer or relevant authority is also encouraged to determine their specific requirements.
If there is no agreed certification for the importing country, the department may assist in negotiating market access.
For organic and/or bio-dynamic goods, if there is no equivalence arrangement for the importing country listed on Micor, you may wish to contact an approved certifying body to determine if you can gain market access through private industry negotiations with the importing country’s relevant authority.
Register with our department systems
You or your agent must be registered as an EXDOC user to produce export documentation.
- You become registered with us
- You are ready to start the consignment application process
Once you have these required approvals in place, and for as long as you maintain those approvals, you can source goods for export from a registered establishment, submit a consignment application, known as a Request for Permit (RFP).
Find out the next steps on how to export eggs and egg products.
Step 2: What you need to do to get a single consignment exported
There are specific approvals that must be in place before eggs and egg products can be exported from Australia.
Before starting this process, depending on your role, you will need to meet additional requirements.
More information on these roles and requirements.
See the key steps, glossary, and links to relevant information. These will help you understand the requirements for exporting a consignment of prescribed eggs and egg products.
Fees and charges
Fees will apply for some of these steps. The costs will vary depending on the method of export. More information on our fees is available in the Charging Guidelines.
Determine importing country requirements
You should research the importing country requirements to ensure products and commodities can be accepted for import into specific overseas countries.
The exporter will need to ensure that the product sourced for export will meet any specific importing country requirements. This may include ensuring that the manufacturer of the product can confirm the product will meet requirements for the specific importing country and/or that the establishment where the goods have been prepared is listed with the importing country (for example, EU and China).
We maintain the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) as a resource to assist in this research, however consultation with the importer or relevant authority is also encouraged to determine their specific requirements.
Austrade's Market Search Tool may also provide additional information on the market you wish to enter.
If there is no agreed certification for the importing country, the department may assist in negotiating market access.
For organic and/or bio-dynamic goods, if there is no equivalence arrangement for the importing country listed on Micor, you may wish to contact an approved certifying body to determine if you can gain market access through private industry negotiations with the importing country’s relevant authority.
Request organic goods certificate
If the goods are to be labelled organic or bio-dynamic (or similar), the exporter must request an organic goods certificate per consignment from an approved certifying body.
- Organic goods certificate issued
If the exporter wishes to export goods labelled organic or bio-dynamic (or similar), they must receive an organic goods certificate prior to exporting their consignment. Once the approved certifying body has confirmed that the goods have been certified to the National Standard for Organic and Bio-dynamic Produce, the exporter is manually issued the organic goods certificate.
Request export permits and certificates
Once the required approvals are in place, the exporter or their agent must submit Request for Permit (RFP) through EXDOC, including documentation to show that the consignment has been prepared in compliance with the Export Control Act 2020.
Consignment declaration
The exporter or their agent must lodge a customs exports declaration to the Australian Border Force.
- Export Declaration Number issued
The establishment is issued an Export Declaration Number (EDN) by the Australian Border Force.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Approved arrangement | Describes those processes and practices which describes how an establishment manages food safety and traceability. |
| Approved certifying body | A body that can undertake organic certification and inspection functions on behalf of the department. |
| Consignment | A batch of goods to be exported. |
| Equivalence arrangement (in relation to organic exports) | Arrangements entered into by countries with similar organic regulatory programs in order to facilitate trade. They are established by assessing and comparing two organic regulatory systems to determine if they are consistent. |
| Export agent | A person who has the authority to undertake documentation activities on the behalf of an exporter or establishment (for example, submitting a RFP). |
| Export permit | Confirmation from the government that allows for a consignment to be exported. |
| Exporter | The person whose name is on the export permit and is responsible for exporting the consignment. |
| Government certificate | A government document declaring that the goods meet the importing country requirements and can be imported. |
| Importer | An individual or organisation who brings a good into a country from a foreign country for trade. |
| Importing country | A country that accepts exported goods from a foreign country for trade. |
| Importing requirements | The requirements an importing country has that need to be met for exported goods to be accepted. |
| Inspection | An inspection is an assessment of a consignment to check that it meets the standard. |
| Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) | The website maintained by the department that lists the known requirements imposed by an importing country for each type of good. |
| Non-significant variations | Variations that do not meet the criteria of a significant variation. |
| Occupier | The person whose name the establishment is registered in. |
| Organic goods | Goods (including their ingredients) that are described as organic, bio-dynamic, biological, ecological or any other similar description. |
| Organic goods certificate | A government certificate that states that all relevant importing country requirements relating to the organic goods (including the operations to produce ore prepare them) are met. |
| Overseas listing | A list maintained by the importing country of approved exporting entities. |
| Prescribed good | Goods that are regulated by the Export Control Act 2020 and the Export Control (Eggs and Egg Products) Rules 2021. |
| Registered establishment | An establishment that has been registered with the department to conduct export operations. |
| Request for Permit (RFP) | Contains information specific to a consignment, required by the department and importing country. |
| Rules | Sets out the list of legislative requirements that must be met by an exporter before prescribed goods can be exported. A separate Export Control Rule exists for each type of prescribed good. |
| Significant variations | Variations that have potential to either adversely affect compliance or have the potential to adversely affect the accuracy of assessing compliance by authorised officers and auditors. |
| The department | The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry |