Australia is implementing new export legislation, the Export Control Act. Consequently, from 28 March 2021, the reference to the year of the Export Control Act, which currently refers to 1982, shall be removed from all sanitary and phytosanitary certificates issued by Australia's competent authority, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
Further, the reference to department names underneath the Australian Government crest will be updated to read "Australian Government" except i) where an importing country expressly requires the name of the competent authority to appear on the certificate; and ii) for plant certificates
Australia is removing the signature of the Chief Veterinary Officer from all electronically issued meat, dairy, egg, non-prescribed goods and seafood health certificates. This will be replaced with the National Veterinary Technical Manager's (Dr Stewart Lowden) signature who will have oversight of the export systems in accordance with OIE and Codex guidance on certification arrangements. Australian health certificates that have a manual signature applied will continue to bear the signature of departmental officers authorised to sign export health certification and apply the department seal.
Signatories for live animal, reproductive material, grain, seed and horticulture phytosanitary certificates will not change. Plant export certificates will update references to "Authorised Officer" with the term "delegate".
The planned changes do not affect the agreed attestations for market access, the department's regulatory controls over exports, or the bilaterally agreed information regarding the consignment details described on the certificate.
Australia's updated certificates will be released during March 2021. Updated plant certificates will be released on 15 March 2021. There will be a short transition period where old and new certificates may be presented to border officials for clearance of goods.
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