Date of Issue: 23 September 2016
Date of Effect: Immediate
Attention:
Industries - Export Establishments, Industry bodies
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources - Central and Regional offices, ATMs and FOMs, OPVs and Meat inspection staff, State Regulatory Authorities
Affected Markets: Republic of Korea
Further information: Please contact Exports if you have queries.
This market access advice (MAA) updates MAA1607 issued on 29 July 2016, and provides further information in relation to the implementation on the Republic of Korea’s (Korea) Special Act on Imported Food Safety Management (the Act), which was enforced from 4 August 2016. The following advice addresses requirements for the registration of establishments producing and exporting ‘livestock products’ to Korea.
Registration of livestock establishments
Note: This advice applies to establishments that produce and export livestock products (category 1 and 2 products, as defined in MAA 1606) to Korea. Under the Act, livestock products are defined as:
- Products listed under i and ii (below) derived from livestock species (cattle, horses, donkeys, mules, sheep (including goats), swine, deer, chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, dogs, rabbits, honeybees and other animals prescribed under presidential decree);
- animals and their carcases;
- products taken from animals, such as bones, flesh, skin, eggs, hair, hooves and horns, and their containers and packaging.
OR
- Products derived from livestock species, such as processed meats, edible tallow, dairy products and processed egg products.
Please refer to MAA1606 issued on 18 April 2016 for a full definition of product categories under the Act.
Further to advice of 18 April 2016 (Refer MAA1606), on 3 August 2016 the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) published a draft list of approved Australian livestock establishments identified as having a history of trade from 1998 to 4 February 2016 (refer https://impfood.mfds.go.kr/#!CFCAA01F010/bbsWriteNo=NTgwNzY. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on selection 1, excel spread sheet tab 1 (dairy) and tab 3 (meat)). The department understands that all entries highlighted green are approved establishments. Those entries highlighted red are either old address details of approved establishments or establishments where MFDS has not identified a history of trade and are therefore not approved to export livestock products to Korea.
MFDS has implemented interim measures until 31 December 2016, for foreign livestock establishments with a history of trade which have been incorrectly listed. These measures will allow importers/exporters to register their establishments at the border, following the provision of evidence that trade occurred before 4 February 2016. This is a temporary arrangement and the department is working with Korea to ensure that registrations are resolved as soon as possible.
Should livestock establishments with an established trade history experience any issues with registration at the border, please contact the department at Exports.
Dairy establishments
The department has reviewed the published dairy registration list and identified a number of Australian establishments with a history of trade before the 4 February 2016, which have been incorrectly highlighted red or omitted from MFDS’s published draft list. The department is currently working with the MFDS to amend and finalise the list to ensure all establishments with a history of trade are correctly registered.
Following contact with all unlisted Australian export dairy establishments, the department has also recommended the listing of a number of establishments without a history of trade with Korea for MFDS’s consideration. Through this process, the department will clarify the registration requirements for new establishments and advise industry accordingly.
The department will manage the registration of these establishments directly with MFDS and MAFRA.
Meat establishments
The department has reviewed the published meat registration list and identified a very small number of Australian establishments with a history of trade before the 4 February 2016, which have been incorrectly highlighted red or omitted from MFDS’s published draft list. The department is currently working with the MFDS to amend and finalise the list to ensure all establishments with a history of trade are correctly registered.
MFDS has confirmed that the Australian meat establishment list approved by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) will continue to be accepted and currently approved establishments will remain eligible to export meat and processed meat products to Korea. The department will continue to manage the registration of these establishments directly with MFDS and MAFRA.
Certification for ‘livestock products’
Existing certification will remain available for all Australian meat and dairy products; however, trade in these products from establishments not approved by MFDS or without a history of trade to Korea occurs at commercial risk. Exporters are encouraged to work with their importers to confirm product eligibility prior to export.
The department is currently negotiating revised certification for dairy and processed meat products with MFDS. MFDS has confirmed that existing certification will remain eligible until these negotiations have been finalised.
Should further information be required regarding certification arrangements or exporters encounter product clearance issues, please contact the department at Food Export Documentation.The information provided above is current at the time of writing and is intended for use as guidance only and should not be taken as definitive or exhaustive. The Commonwealth endeavours to keep information current and accurate, however, it may be subject to change without notice. Exporters are encouraged to verify these details with their importers prior to undertaking production/exports. The Commonwealth will not accept liability for any loss resulting from reliance on information contained in this notice.