opportunity for agencies to work together to identify areas for cooperation and to reduce burden on industry. Agriculture’s current Export Meat Program, and particularly Tier two arrangements, is a good example where such cooperation would offer a benefit to each agency and to industry. The Export Meat Program is underpinned by legislative requirements and processes to ensure the safety, suitability and integrity of Australian meat and meat products. As a result of these requirements and processes the meat supply chain is very secure. Agriculture’s Export Meat Program provides inspection, verification and certification services to the export meat industry in Australia. The services provided include: The provision of export certification acceptable to Australia’s trading partners; A scientifically-based inspection system that underpins the production of wholesome meat and meat products; A capacity for scientific review of the inspection system; The supply of inspection services and veterinary oversight as required to all establishments registered for export with the Department of Agriculture; Audit activities that verify industry compliance with the Export Control Act 1982 and subordinate orders, including overseas market access requirements and establishments’ Approved Arrangements. A comparison of Tier two registered establishments with the SAFE Framework, which underpins the Trusted Trader Programme, shows strong similarities between requirements. Most of the physical and procedural security requirements of the SAFE Framework would be covered, limiting the number of additional SAFE Framework requirements these establishments would have to demonstrate compliance with to join the Trusted Trader Programme. There are a number of areas where meat export Programme requirements clearly meet SAFE framework requirements, particularly in relation to physical security. For example, the SAFE framework guidance requires written procedures be developed and utilised stipulating how seals are to be controlled and affixed. These procedures are detailed in the Approved Arrangement of registered establishments and are subject to Agriculture audit. There are a number of areas where there are some differences between SAFE framework and meat export Programme requirements. For example, in the area of personnel security, the SAFE framework guidance requires all reasonable precautions to be undertaken when recruiting new staff to verify that they are not previously convicted of security-related, Customs or other criminal offences. Under section 4.05 of the Export Control (Prescribed Goods General) Order – 2005, key personnel of influence must meet a fit and proper person test. This requirement aligns with the SAFE guidance, but only extends to management and not to general employees. There are no obligations to vet general employees in the same way. At least some of these elements are likely to also be met by Tier two meat exporters outside of Agriculture’s regulatory framework. For example, the SAFE
opportunity for agencies to work together to identify areas for cooperation and to reduce burden on industry. Agriculture’s current Export Meat Program, and particularly Tier two arrangements, is a good example where such cooperation would offer a benefit to each agency and to industry. The Export Meat Program is underpinned by legislative requirements and processes to ensure the safety, suitability and integrity of Australian meat and meat products. As a result of these requirements and processes the meat supply chain is very secure. Agriculture’s Export Meat Program provides inspection, verification and certification services to the export meat industry in Australia. The services provided include: The provision of export certification acceptable to Australia’s trading partners; A scientifically-based inspection system that underpins the production of wholesome meat and meat products; A capacity for scientific review of the inspection system; The supply of inspection services and veterinary oversight as required to all establishments registered for export with the Department of Agriculture; Audit activities that verify industry compliance with the Export Control Act 1982 and subordinate orders, including overseas market access requirements and establishments’ Approved Arrangements. A comparison of Tier two registered establishments with the SAFE Framework, which underpins the Trusted Trader Programme, shows strong similarities between requirements. Most of the physical and procedural security requirements of the SAFE Framework would be covered, limiting the number of additional SAFE Framework requirements these establishments would have to demonstrate compliance with to join the Trusted Trader Programme. There are a number of areas where meat export Programme requirements clearly meet SAFE framework requirements, particularly in relation to physical security. For example, the SAFE framework guidance requires written procedures be developed and utilised stipulating how seals are to be controlled and affixed. These procedures are detailed in the Approved Arrangement of registered establishments and are subject to Agriculture audit. There are a number of areas where there are some differences between SAFE framework and meat export Programme requirements. For example, in the area of personnel security, the SAFE framework guidance requires all reasonable precautions to be undertaken when recruiting new staff to verify that they are not previously convicted of security-related, Customs or other criminal offences. Under section 4.05 of the Export Control (Prescribed Goods – General) Order 2005, key personnel of influence must meet a fit and proper person test. This requirement aligns with the SAFE guidance, but only extends to management and not to general employees. There are no obligations to vet general employees in the same way. At least some of these elements are likely to also be met by Tier two meat exporters outside of Agriculture’s regulatory framework. For example, the SAFE
Trusted-Trader-Programme-RIS.docx