Industry Advice Notice no. 2002/11: Co- regulation Agreement: Sampling of Containerised Hay by Industry for Export Inspection by AQIS

Background

The Grain Export Program has recently undergone an internal review of operations and inspection procedures as a follow up of recommendations from the Review and Evaluation of the Grain Export Program (February 1998), the recently completed review of the Grain, Plants and Plant Products Orders, and the findings of the AQIS National Consistency Committee. From these reviews industry has strongly endorsed that the Grain Export Program: -

• Preserve the integrity of Australia’s export inspection and certification generally, and in particular in relation to alternative forms of inspection; and
• Support moves towards co-regulation with industry based on clearly defined responsibilities of the parties involved.

Co-regulation Agreements Industry sampling agreements have been successfully implemented between AQIS and containerised grain exporters over the last two years. This type of agreement is now available for exporters of containerised hay and straw.

The inspection and certification of hay for export to all countries is based on Hay Export Procedure 2000 and the Work Instruction, Inspection and Export Certification of Hay. In line with these procedures a Process Management System for the industry sampling of hay has been developed and is now available for implementation.

Issue

The option of a Co-Regulation Agreement (Industry sampling) will enable hay exporters to tailor their inspection and certification requirements to each Companies ability to meet legislative requirements in a cost effective manner.

Advice