Date of issue: 06 April 2020
Date of effect: Immediate
Previous advice: MAA2020-04
Attention:
- Industries—Industry bodies – AHBIC, AFGC
- Licensed exporters
- Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment—Central and Regional offices
Purpose
To notify exporters of updated export certificate procedures to the European Union.
Summary of key points
- From 1 April 2020 onwards, the department will be sending scanned export certificates via email directly to the EU Border Control Post identified in the certificate as the destination port.
- This includes veterinary health certificates and any tariff rate quota certificates for all commodities (meat, meat by-products, hides and skins, dairy, seafood, eggs and non-prescribed goods)
- The original certificate must still be sent by exporters to the relevant Border Control Post as soon as technically feasible, noting that this might not be possible until current movement restrictions cease.
- The original certificates will be posted to the exporter’s address listed on the health certificate. Please advise foodexports@awe.gov.au if a certificate should be posted to a different address.
- This change in procedure is in response to a recent decision by the European Commission (EC) to accept scanned copies of export certificates in cases where it is not possible to present the original certificate with the consignment.
- This EC decision is in response to the severe restrictions on air transport that are affecting courier services and is only intended to apply in the current COVID-19 situation. This is not a permanent change to the European requirements.
- Please note that this does not affect existing EU regulations that require that all certificates should be issued and signed prior to the product leaving Australia and that replacement certificates may only be issued in cases of obvious simple administrative errors or when the original is damaged or lost.
Further information
Contact exportstandards@awe.gov.au if you have any queries.
The information provided in this advice 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.