Date of issue: 25 August 2026
Date of effect: 30 August 2026
Reference Number: MAA 2026-22
Related MAAS: MAA 2026-14
Attention
- Industries—Industry bodies – Dairy Australia, Infant Nutrition Council, Dairy Export Industry Consultative Committee, Australian Food and Grocery Council
- Dairy Export establishments
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry — Central and Regional offices
- Exporters, AEPI and NEXDOC users
Purpose
This Market Access Advice (MAA) is to remind stakeholders that the European Union (EU) will prohibit the use of antimicrobials for growth promotion or yield enhancement in animals for all imports entering the EU supply chain from 3 September 2026. Antimicrobials, substances that act on micro-organisms, must only be used only for therapeutic purposes e.g. to treat a disease or medical condition.
Key points
From 30 August 2026, the EU milk and milk products health certificate for products for human consumption, eCert extract name EUEXH1, will include a new animal health attestation.
The attestation reads, in part, as follows:
… the animals from which the raw milk has been obtained have not been administered antimicrobial medicinal products for growth promotion or yield increase or antimicrobial medicinal products containing an antimicrobial that is included in the list of antimicrobials reserved for the treatment of certain infections in humans laid down in [a Commission Regulation] …
EUEXH1 will be released on 30 August (before 3 September) as part of a routine NEXDOC system release.
To view the health certificate in its entirety, please see DAIRY-PRODUCTS-PT model set out in Chapter 35 of Annex III: EUR-Lex - 02020R2235-20260312 - EN - EUR-Lex. The EU does not publish these health certificates as stand-alone documents.
Export registered establishments and exporters do not need to do anything about this change to the certificate. The health certificates will continue to be issued via the EU Trade Control and Export System (TRACES-NT) as an eCert (through the department's Next Export Documentation (NEXDOC) system.
Information about the broader requirements associated with the change, specifically the prohibition on the use of antimicrobials for growth promotion or yield enhancement in animals for all imports entering the EU supply chain, was previously communicated to industry via MAA 2026-14. This included information on the required actions for producers and exporters and proposed labelling changes. There has been no further change to these requirements. Please refer to: MAA 2026-14: Milk and Milk Products: European Union: Rules on the use of antimicrobials on dairy farms - DAFF
Contact exportstandards@aff.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.