On November 3, 2020, the Australian Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Environment issued the notice of MAA 2020-24, which will implement paperless electronic certification for milk and dairy products exported to Japan.

The key points of the notice are as follows:
 
1. Following negotiations between the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Australian exports of all dairy and dairy products to Japan will now occur via paperless trading through eCert.

2. Paper export certificates will no longer be available as they are no longer required by MHLW and MAFF.

3. only electronic certification issued through the eCert exchange, will be eligible for import clearance in Japan. This is done directly through a government to government exchange.

4. Exporters are encouraged to complete all pending request for permits prior to the change over date.

5. Certificate defaults will be updated as part of the changeover to eCert.

6. There have been no changes to Japan’s sanitary requirements for dairy and dairy products exported to Japan.

7. The department’s Manual of importing Country Requirements (MICoR) page will be updated to reflect the changes to certification requirements.

8. The previous certification arrangements will not be accepted by Japan for exports occurring on or after 10 November 2020.

The effective date of this notice is November 10, 2020.

---

Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry. 

Please feel free to contact us: +86 10 68869850, E-mail: global_info@foodmate.net