G/SPS/N/AUS/520  
 
28 April 2021  
(21-3595) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  AUSTRALIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Dairy products  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Updates to sanitary Certificates for dairy exports from 
Australia . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:   
6. Description of content:  Australia is replacing the current Export Documentation System 
(EXDOC) with a new system called the Next Export Documentation System (NEXDOC). 
NEXDOC is designed to make Australia's export documentation system more secure and 
responsive to changes in trad e conditions. The new system will be first rolled out for dairy 
certificates.  
The planned changes do not affect the agreed conditions or attestations for market 
access, bilaterally agreed information about the consignment details or the department's 
regulatory controls over exports.  
Australia is adding a Quick Response Code (QR) as an added security feature enabling 
border officials an additional security check to confirm authenticity of the certificate in 
real-time. With this added secur ity, certificates will no longer be issued on security paper.  
Any references to former department names (i.e. DAFF (Department of Agriculture 
Forestry and Fisheries), Department of Agriculture, Australian Quarantine and Inspection 
Services etc.) in mutuall y agreed endorsements/attestations will be replaced with 
'Australian Government'.  
Where official seals have been previously agreed, any reference to 'DAFF' or 'Australia PI 
seals' within endorsements/attestations will be replaced with the word 'seal' or 'Australian 
Government seal'.  
Australia's updated dairy export certificates will be issued from 17 May 2021. There will 
be a four -week transition period where certificates from the department's current system 
(EXDOC) and NEXDOC may be issued. This means ther e will be a period where both types 
of certificates will be presented to border officials for clearance of goods.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   G/SPS/N/AUS/520  
 
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  8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : CCFICS CAC/GL 38-2001 
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Terrestrial Animal Health Code 
Chapter 5  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed  regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 17 May 2021  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 17 May 2021  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 17 May 2021  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax numb er and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
E-mail: sps.contact@awe.gov.au  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
E-mail: sps.contact@awe.gov.au