A NEW legislative framework for agricultural exports starting from 28 March 2021 will consist of the Export Control Act 2020 and a suite of legislative instruments, the Export Control Rules 2020 (the Rules).
The rules set out details for regulating the exports of commodities and are based on the existing commodity orders.
This is part of a wider initiative to strengthen Australia’s agricultural exports and market access.
The department is consulting stakeholders on 12 draft rules over three tranches, with consultations for tranches 2 (animals, rabbit, ratite and wild game).
Deputy secretary Agricultural Trade Group, David Hazlehurst, said consultation would meet Australia’s obligations under the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phyto Sanitary measures.
“The refinement of any legislation is an ongoing process and there will be further opportunities to amend our export legislation after it commences, if we need to,” Mr Hazlehurst said.
“Consultation on the draft Rules provides our export industries and our trading partners with an opportunity to provide feedback on them.
“This will help ensure Australia’s agricultural export legislation is clear and fit for purpose – supporting growth and innovation, while maintaining the standards trading partners expect.”
Consultations on the draft Rules for commodities included in tranche 1 (eggs, fish, meat, milk, organic goods, plants and poultry meat) are open until 5 November 2020. Consultations on the draft Rules in tranche three (wood and miscellaneous) will open later this year.
