Date of Issue: 14 November 2016
Date of Effect: Immediately
Attention
Industries:
- Export Establishments
- Industry bodies - DA, AELC, AFGC, ARA, AHBIC
- Licensed exporters
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources:
- Central and regional offices
Other: State regulatory authorities
Affected Markets: Kuwait
Further Information: Please contact Exports if you have any queries.
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has recently received official verbal advice that Kuwait may seek to implement the certificates from the GCC Imported Food Guide (the Guide) in advance of the published implementation date of 1 January 2017. Advice from Kuwait is that they will be seeking certificates in alignment with the Guide for all product arriving from 15 December 2016. Products arriving from this date that do not have the correct certification may be at risk of rejection.
Commodities included in the Guide include the following products for human consumption: meat and meat products, milk and milk products, seafood, table eggs and egg products, processed foods, assorted food products and honey and bee products.
The department has been working towards new certificates for negotiation under the Guide. These certificates have been drafted to closely reflect what is already agreed with GCC member countries, including Kuwait. The department is engaging directly with Kuwait and the GCC Secretariat (the owner of the Guide), to seek an extension to the implementation timelines to ensure trade is not disrupted while certificate negotiations are ongoing.
The department seeks advice from industry on any exported product certified by the department currently in transit, which will arrive in Kuwait from 15 December 2016. Please provide information on the consignment including export certificate and the estimated time of arrival directly to the department via email to Exports
The department will provide an update to this Market Access Advice as soon as further information is available. The department is not aware of any other GCC countries imposing changes to their health certification requirements at this stage.
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.