Date of issue: 14 June 2024
Date of effect: Immediate
Related MAAs: 2024-08, 2024-10, 2024-12, 2024-13
Attention:
- Egg Exporters - Australian
- Egg Export establishments
- Licensed exporters
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Central and Regional offices
This Market Access Advice (MAA) updates the related MAAs listed above, which provided information on certification changes as a result of the high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) incident in Victoria. This MAA provides additional guidance to exporters looking to obtain a valid health certificate for eligible poultry and poultry products, and an update for Singapore exports.
Disease situation
On 22 and 24 May 2024, Victoria confirmed an outbreak of HPAI (H7 strain) on two premises. As a result of targeted surveillance and tracing activities, a total of six infected premises have been confirmed in the controlled areas. The initial notifications to World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) will be updated to reflect the current disease situation.
Despite further detections on premises, this remains a localised incident at this time, with surveillance and tracing activities ongoing. Further advice will be provided when available in the upcoming MAAs.
Exporter and establishment guidance
Further to related MAAs, exporters that wish to apply for a health certificate through the department's Export Documentation (EXDOC) system, Next Export Documentation system (NEXDOC) or a manual certificate through Assessment Services Exports (ASE) to export eligible poultry and poultry products, must include the following declaration:
The products comply with the avian influenza importing country requirements and all attestations on the certificate. This declaration is supported by records.
For electronic certificates, this declaration will need to be made via EXDOC and NEXDOC. For applications for manual certificates, this declaration will need to be provided in writing on exporter/manufacturer letterhead to ASE when submitting the application.
Applications will be assessed based on all information and declarations provided. The department may need to seek further confirmation relating to this declaration before a certificate can be issued.
Certificate reinstatement
Further to related MAAs, there are additional certificates where restrictions have been reduced for rendered or processed petfood products. Please refer bolded entries in Attachment 1 for these changes.
Singapore
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has clarified that all poultry and poultry products (including eggs) that were sourced from within the currently identified Control Area in Victoria, must have a slaughter/collection of date before 8 May 2024 to be eligible for export to Singapore. Additionally, this product must also have an export date before 22 May 2024 to be eligible for Singapore.
However, all product that is derived from poultry sourced from outside the Control Area is eligible for export to Singapore.
Information relating to the Control Area can be found on the Agriculture Victoria website.
Please note that the department is working closely with industry to prioritise negotiations with other key poultry and poultry product markets.
The department will provide updates on this in future MAA's as information becomes available.
Further information
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.
Contact ExportStandards@aff.gov.au if you have any queries.
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