Australia's $170 million horticultural export industry to New Zealand will be boosted under a new agreement that aims to reduce red tape and ease regulatory burden.
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said today's signing of the Australia-New Zealand Export Plan represented a significant market access win for Australia's fruit and vegetable export industries.
"Our farmers will be able to get their premium produce across the ditch quicker under this arrangement while still ensuring health and biosecurity safeguards," Minister Littleproud said.
"The Export Plan recognises Australia's existing export certification system, removing the need for New Zealand specific requirements.
"Exporters will no longer need to nominate their industry inspectors, packhouse or growers each year and can use whoever is New Zealand approved.
"Packhouses do not need to be Registered Establishments if they are not undertaking treatments or Authorised Officer inspections, a cost saving of over $6000 a year in registration fees and audits."
"Treatment providers won't need to reapply each year, and there will be less audit costs for farms, packhouses and treatment facilities as we move to a compliance-based assurance model that rewards highly compliant entities with less audits.
"These and a number of other changes made under the Australia-New Zealand Export Plan will save farmers and those along the horticultural export supply chain time and money.
"The Australian Government is committed to busting agricultural export congestion as part of our Ag2030 plan to support industry reach $100 billion in farmgate value by 2030.
"We welcome the efforts by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries to work with my department in streamlining these processes for the benefit of both nations."
Fast Facts:
- The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment began consulting with industry on the new Export Plan in early 2019.
- The Export Plan replaces the Australia-New Zealand Bilateral Quarantine Arrangement - Systems Operation Manual, established in the late 1990s.
- In 2019/2020 Australia exported to New Zealand $78.6 million in fruit and $54.9 million in vegetables.
