Export Certification Reform,

Trends in Importing Country

Requirements

Overview

• Export certification reform history

• Australian Export Meat Inspection System (AEMIS)

• Benefits of AEMIS

• AEMIS implementation

• Importing authorities, market access and AEMIS

• Future challenges and opportunities

Export certification reform history

• AQIS and industry cooperation

• Product Hygiene Indicators (PHI)

• Export Certification Reform Package - MTF

• Government funding $127.4 m to promote

efficiencies and effectiveness across export sectors

• $92 m applied to export meat for

– regulatory reform

– meat inspectorate reform

– IT systems

Australian Export Meat Inspection System (AEMIS)

• Inspection activities reflect science and risks

• Flexible sourcing of inspectors

• Audit frequency based on performance

• Supported by objective data

• Key performance indicators

• Management enhanced by IT systems

• Establishment and regulatory interventions

AEMIS on plant - the regulatory team

• AQIS veterinarian continues supervisory role with

increased focus on objective verification

• AQIS Food Safety Meat Assessor (FSMA) on every

red meat chain to assess carcases

• May be 2nd FSMA (or part) to assist verification

• Competent, qualified people perform post-mortem

inspection

AEMIS on plant- post mortem inspection

• Competent, qualified people perform inspection

• Part of regulatory team on-plant

– AQIS Authorised Officers (AAOs)

– FSMAs who are AQIS staff

• All will have cert IV meat processing–meat safety

Competencies

Certificate IV in meat processing (meat safety)

Control

Veterinary supervision

Public Service Act• Professional / ethical• Fit and proper

Verification

Veterinary oversight

Product hygiene index (since July 2010)

Post-mortem product

Post-mortem inspection process

Competencies

Certificate IV in meat processing (meat safety)

Control

Veterinary supervision

Deed of obligation• Professional / ethical• Fit and proper

Verification

Veterinary oversight

Product hygiene index (since July 2010)

Post-mortem product

Post-mortem inspection process

AQIS meat

inspectors/FSMAs

AQIS Authorised

Officers (not employed by AQIS)

Authorised under the Export Control Act,1982

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Post mortem inspection

AEMIS implementation

• AEMIS rollout has commenced

• New fees from 1 October 2011

• Establishment decision re sourcing of inspectorate

• Approved arrangements confirm non-interference

• Training to support AAOs

• Registered Training Organisations

• Implementation funding provided by Government

$25 m until 31 Dec 2013

New IT systems

• Audit Management System (AMS)

• Audit reporting

• Key performance and Product Hygiene Indicators

• Dashboard

• Manual of Importing Country Requirements

(MICoR)

AEMIS benefits

• Improve flexibility/efficiencies through option to

engage AAOs or utilise AQIS FSMAs

• Improved industry performance

• KPIs, data analysis/trends support early action

• Informed workforce

• New IT systems enable data capture and analysis

to support market access

• Businesses consistently performing to a high

standard recognised via reduced audit frequency

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Median

Est Value

KPI Benefits

• Measure of the safety and suitability of meat

• Verifies system outcomes, supports market access

• Plants and government take early preventive action

MH

A

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Individual KPI Summary Data

Market acceptance of reform

• US accepted MSEP+1 in 1999

• Formal acceptance of AEMIS 5 March 2011 through

Federal register notice

• Significant consultation with markets

• Number of visits / audits by markets

• Mar 2011 United States

• Mar 2011 European Union

• May 2011 Malaysia halal

• Jun 2011 Korea

• Sep 2011 Malaysia pork

Upcoming visits 2011

• Malaysia 29 Sep to 01 Oct

• Ukraine 06 Oct to 15 Oct

• Japanm 10 Oct to 14 Oct

• Egypt from 17 Oct ?

• Indonesia (provincial)

• China

• Malaysia

Challenges and opportunities for meat exports

• Australian dollar / greenback parity Oct 2010

• Floods, droughts impact agricultural productivity

• Dec / Jan - floods cost $1 billion

• Feb - Cyclone Yasi cost $300 million (Qld)

Challenges and opportunities for meat exports

• Community and market demands

• Food safety – e.g. microbiological testing

• Animal welfare – e.g. Australia, European Union

• Emerging diseases

• Supply chain integrity

Food Safety and microbiological testing

• US introduced E. coli O157:H7 testing in 2008

• US testing for non-O157 STECs

• O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145

• Planned from March 2012

• Japan testing for O26, O111, O157

• Testing for stx gene markers

• Other markets increasing focus on micro testing

Food Safety and microbiological testing

• Staphylococcus aureus and meat safety

• TVC testing of cryovac packed meat

• Science based international standards

• Technology advances

• More foodborne illness?

– Improved diagnosis or more disease?

Animal welfare

• Increasing pressure over last 20+ years

• Welfare outcomes defined in Australian legislation

and supported by science and risk based standards

• Australian Standards (incl AS4696)

• Cruelty legislation

• Codes of practice

• Industry standard

• Any additional importing country requirements

(for export)

Animal welfare

• EU legislation changing

• Phased implementation from 1 Jan 2013

• Visited in March 2011 to

– Collect information on animal welfare

standards at EU listed abattoirs

– Assist AQIS and industry prepare for 2013

• Australia generally well-prepared

– MINTRAC, industry and Government

Emerging diseases

Avian influenza - H5N1

• Last Australian incident was 1997 in NSW

• Previous in Vic and Qld

• Since 2003

• 280 human deaths due to H5N1 globally

• Surveillance has not detected the virus in

Australia

Emerging diseases

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)

• Europe

• UK 1986

• Ireland 89

• France 91

• Belgium 93

• Japan 2001

• North America 2003

No – it’s only slightly grumpy cow disease

Emerging diseases

Swine flu - H1N1

• 2009 pandemic after virus genetic re-assortment

in pigs, then again in people

• Pork not implicated

Emerging diseases

• Equine influenza

• Identified in Australia in August 2007

• Spread through parts of NSW and Qld

• Provisionally free March 2008

• Eradication costs ~ $100 million

• Additional social and industry costs

Emerging diseases

• Hendra

• Bats reservoir of virus

• Horses

• Humans

• Dogs, cats other mammals tested

• Paramyxovirus

• Pigeons

• Reported to OIE

Supply chain integrity

• Traceability

• Certification, labelling, etc

• Improved data collection, transfer

• Paddock to plate

– NLIS, NVDs, eNVDs

– trade descriptions, labelling

– transfer certificates, eMTC

– export permits and certification, eCert

• Animal health data

• Integrated production system, verifiable by IT

• Meat inspection based on science and risk

• Risks managed through response to data / trends

• Regulatory system based on performance and risk

• Needs to be delivered and maintained

• Sustained / improved market access based on

Australia’s meat safety performance,

supported by data

• Integrity of the supply chain,

certification is the next challenge

Summary

Thank you

Questions?