In 2010, in response to a request from the Council of Australian Governments, the Agriculture Ministers’ Forum (AGMIN) and the Agriculture Senior Officials’ Committee (AGSOC) agreed to develop a single national framework to harmonise the regulation of agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals. A working group, the Agvet Chemical Relations Committee (ACRC), was established to progress these reforms, with membership from all states and territories, and the Australian and New Zealand governments.

19 October 2020

Purpose

This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise of changes to the trade description requirements for horticulture exports.

Publication details

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, October 2020

This Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) Regulatory Performance Report covers the period 1 June to 30 September 2020. The review concerns the performance of ESCAS supply chains in Kuwait and Vietnam.

This report summarises the outcomes of the reviews and regulatory actions taken by the department.

19 October 2020

Who does this notice affect?

All clients required to use the department’s Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) system during this planned maintenance period.

Information

Due to scheduled infrastructure maintenance, BICON users may experience several intermittent outages from 16:00 to 23:59 on Sunday 25 October 2020 (AEDT).

Action

Users are advised to frequently save any in-progress permit applications during this maintenance period.

16 October 2020

Who does this notice affect?

All clients who submit documentation to the department for import assessment via the Cargo Online Lodgement System (COLS) or other departmental approved systems.

What has changed?

The department acknowledges that some clients are currently experiencing delays in receiving their directions.

The department is prioritising and redeploying resources to assist in clearing the current back log.

23 October 2020

20 October 2020

Imported plants and their products can introduce exotic and unwanted weeds, pests and diseases into Australia. These can threaten our natural environment, our food security and economy.

We protect Australia’s biosecurity status through education and targeted regulation.

13 October 2020

Who does this notice affect?

All operators of cruise vessels under biosecurity control that may carry passengers accompanied by assistance dogs.

12 October 2020

Who does this notice affect?

All users of the below systems: