Date issued - 17 November 2006
This Industry Advice Notice is to remind marine surveyors, ship’s agents, ship owners and exporters of their obligations under the Export Control (Plants and Plant Products) Orders 2005 (EC(PPP)Os) in relation to the export of prescribed grains and prescribed goods for consumption.
A loading permit is required prior to commencing loading of bulk prescribed grains or prescribed goods for consumption into a ship's hold. This permit may only be issued by an authorised officer provided the following conditions have been met:
1. a marine surveyor meets and maintains the qualifications to meet the criteria specified under Schedule 1 of the EC(PPP)Os:
(a) he or she must hold a Certificate of Competency as Master Class 1 (Unrestricted) or its current equivalent;
(b) he or she must have inspected at least 10 ships for suitability to carry prescribed grain or prescribed goods for consumption over a maximum period of 2 years while in the company of a marine surveyor having the qualifications referred to in paragraph (a); and
(c) in the 3 years prior to the proposed survey, he or she must have surveyed at least 10 ships for suitability to carry prescribed grain or prescribed goods for consumption.
2. the shipowner or ship-owner’s agent - in accordance with order 19 of the EC(PPP)Os - has provided an authorised officer with a declaration, approved by the exporter of the goods, that a specified marine surveyor has been appointed to survey the ship, for the purpose of ensuring that the ship is suitable to carry the goods; and
3. the marine surveyor - in accordance with order 21 of the EC(PPP)Os - appointed under order 19 - has surveyed the ship paying particular regard to freedom from conditions that could result in contaminating, wetting or imparting an odour to relevant goods, and, if the marine surveyor is satisfied as to the suitability of the ship to carry the goods, the marine surveyor has furnished a certificate to that effect to the master of the ship and to an authorised officer ; and
4. in accordance with clause 58 of Schedule 5 - an authorised officer has been provided the marine surveyors certificate issued in accordance with the EC(PPP)Os; and.
5. an authorised officer has inspected the ship in accordance with the EC(PPP)Os in relation to maintaining integrity of the commodity to be loaded into the ship - with particular regard to rodents, insect infestations or the presence of infestible residues.
Marine surveyors should ensure that their records of qualifications are maintained in accordance with Schedule 1 of the EC(PPP)Os and, where required, provide evidence to demonstrate compliance with these requirements.
Mike Gilbert
Program Manager
Grain and Plant Products Export Program
Contact Officer: Dave Ryan
Telephone: 02 6272 4976
Facsimile: 02 6272 3745