What is a Request for Permit?

A Request for Permit is a formal application submitted to the relevant authorities to obtain permission for certain activities. These activities typically involve the import or export of goods, which are subject to regulations and controls to ensure safety, security, and compliance with international standards. The Request for Permit process ensures that all necessary documentation and approvals are in place before the goods are transported.

The Purpose of a Request for Permit

The primary purpose of a Request for Permit is to ensure that all regulatory requirements are met. This includes adherence to health, safety, and environmental standards. By obtaining the necessary permits, businesses can avoid legal issues, fines, and delays that might occur if goods are shipped without proper authorization.

Types of Requests for Permits

There are various types of Requests for Permits, depending on the nature of the goods and the regulations they are subject to. Some common types include:

Import Permits: Required for bringing goods into a country.

Export Permits: Necessary for shipping goods out of a country.

Transit Permits: Needed for goods passing through one country to another destination.

Each type of permit serves a specific purpose and ensures that the goods comply with relevant regulations.

The Request for Permit Process

The process of obtaining a Request for Permit typically involves several steps. First, the applicant must gather all necessary documentation, such as invoices, certificates of origin, and packing lists. Next, the application is submitted to the relevant authorities, who review the documents and assess compliance with regulations. If the application is approved, the permit is issued, allowing the goods to be transported.

Why is a Request for Permit Important?

A Request for Permit is crucial for several reasons. It ensures compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, which is essential for avoiding penalties and legal issues. Additionally, it helps maintain the integrity and safety of the supply chain by ensuring that all goods meet health, safety, and environmental standards. Furthermore, having the necessary permits can expedite the customs clearance process, reducing delays and improving efficiency.

Ensuring Compliance with a Request for Permit

Compliance with a Request for Permit is essential for smooth international trade operations. Businesses must ensure that all documentation is accurate and complete before submitting their application. This includes providing detailed information about the goods, their origin, and their destination. Any discrepancies or missing information can lead to delays or rejection of the permit.

Benefits of Using Technology for a Request for Permit

Leveraging technology can greatly enhance the efficiency of the Request for Permit process. Automated systems can streamline the application process, reducing the time and effort required to gather and submit documentation. Additionally, technology can help track the status of permit applications, providing real-time updates and alerts to ensure timely compliance.

Common Challenges with Requests for Permits

Despite its importance, the Request for Permit process can present several challenges. Common issues include:

Complex Documentation Requirements: Ensuring that all necessary documents are complete and accurate can be time-consuming and complicated.

Regulatory Changes: Keeping up with changing regulations and requirements can be difficult.

Delays in Processing: Delays in the review and approval process can impact the timely shipment of goods.

Overcoming Challenges in the Request for Permit Process

To overcome these challenges, businesses can adopt several strategies. Staying informed about regulatory changes and updates is essential for ensuring compliance. Additionally, using automated systems can streamline the documentation process and reduce the risk of errors. Working with experienced professionals or consultants can also help navigate the complexities of the Request for Permit process.

The Role of Authorities in the Request for Permit Process

Regulatory authorities play a crucial role in the Request for Permit process. They are responsible for reviewing and approving applications, ensuring that all goods comply with relevant regulations. Authorities also provide guidance and support to businesses to help them understand and meet regulatory requirements.

How to Prepare for a Request for Permit

Preparing for a Request for Permit involves several key steps. First, businesses must gather all necessary documentation, including invoices, certificates, and packing lists. Next, they should review the requirements for the specific permit they are applying for and ensure that all information is accurate and complete. Submitting the application in a timely manner and following up with the relevant authorities can help expedite the approval process.

Best Practices for a Successful Request for Permit

To ensure a successful Request for Permit, businesses should adopt several best practices. These include:

Accurate Documentation: Ensure that all documents are complete and accurate before submission.

Timely Submission: Submit applications well in advance to allow time for review and approval.

Regular Follow-Up: Follow up with authorities to check the status of the application and address any issues promptly.

The Future of Requests for Permits

As technology continues to advance, the Request for Permit process is likely to become more streamlined and efficient. Automated systems and digital platforms can simplify the documentation process, reduce errors, and improve communication between businesses and regulatory authorities. Additionally, greater transparency and real-time updates can enhance the overall efficiency of the process.

Conclusion

Understanding what a Request for Permit is and why it is important is essential for businesses involved in international trade. A Request for Permit ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, helps avoid legal issues and delays, and maintains the integrity of the supply chain. By leveraging technology and adopting best practices, businesses can streamline the Request for Permit process and enhance their efficiency in global trade operations.

For businesses seeking to simplify and automate their Request for Permit process, platforms like ImpexDocs offer comprehensive solutions to ensure compliance and efficiency.

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1. Commercial Invoice: Description: A comprehensive billing document provided by the seller to the buyer, detailing the transaction’s terms, quantity, description, and cost of goods sold. It serves as a basis for payment and customs declaration.
2. Packing List: Description: An itemized record accompanying shipments, specifying the contents, quantities, and packaging details of the goods. The packing list assists customs officials, transport handlers, and recipients in verifying the shipment’s contents.
3. EDN (Export Declaration Number): An identification number assigned to export transactions by customs authorities, serving as a reference for monitoring and controlling the movement of goods across international borders. The EDN is a key element in trade compliance and reporting.
4. Certificate of Origin: A formal document that provides evidence of the country where goods were produced, manufactured, or processed. It is essential for determining tariff rates, import restrictions, and trade preferences under various trade agreements.
5. Request for Permit (RFP): Description: A formal submission made to government authorities, such as the Department of Agriculture, to obtain the necessary permit for the export of goods. This process involves providing detailed information about the nature of the goods and their intended destination. The issuance of the permit may result in the issuance of either a Health Certificate or a Phytosanitary Certificate, indicating that the traded goods meet the required health and safety standards for international trade, particularly in relation to agricultural and plant-based products. The RFP plays a vital role in ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and facilitating the legitimate movement of goods across borders.
6. Air Waybill Air freight shipments will require airway bills.  An air waybill is sent with goods shipped by an international air carrier. Air Waybill document provides detailed information about the shipment and allows it to be tracked.  Air waybills are exporter/shipper-specific documents and are not negotiable documents (as opposed to “order” bills of lading used for vessel shipments).
7. Bill of Lading:  A bill of lading is a contract between the owner of the goods and the carrier (as with domestic shipments). For ocean shipments, there are two common types: a straight bill of lading, which is non-negotiable, and a negotiable, or shipper’s order bill of lading. The latter can be used to buy, sell or trade the goods while in transit. The customer/buyer usually needs an original bill of lading as proof of ownership to take possession of the goods from the ocean carrier.
8. Health Certificate: An official statement issued by competent authorities confirming that goods, often perishable or consumable items, meet the required health and safety standards for international trade. It ensures that the traded products pose no health risks to consumers.
9. Phytosanitary Certificate: A regulatory document issued by plant protection agency to certify that plant-based products, including agricultural and horticultural items, have been inspected and found free from regulated pests, diseases, and other harmful organisms. This certificate is crucial to prevent the spread of pests across borders.
10. Load Out Instructions: Comprehensive guidelines provided by the Shipper/Exporter to the packer/supplier outlining the proper procedures for loading and securing cargo onto transportation vessels, ensuring safe handling and optimal use of space during shipment.
11. PRA (Pre-Receival Advice): PRA is a two-way communication between exporters and stevedores at ports in which the former provides details about the containers to be shipped and the latter responds with cargo acceptance.
12. Forwarding Instruction: Description: Detailed directives provided by the shipper to freight forwarders, carriers, and other logistics partners, specifying how goods should be transported and handled during the export process.
13. E-forwarding Instruction: Similar to forwarding instructions, E-forwarding Instructions are submitted electronically, providing detailed directives by the shipper to freight forwarders, carriers, and other logistics partners, specifying how goods should be transported and handled during the export process.
14. Beneficiary Certificate: Beneficiary Certificate is a document issued by Shipper/Exporter based on the Buyer or Importer’s request, specifying certain details or information, related to the trade or traded goods.
15. Insurance Certificate: Description: A document issued by an insurance provider, confirming coverage for goods during transit. It safeguards against potential risks, loss, or damage, offering financial protection to parties involved in the trade.
16. Bank Lodgement: Description: The act of lodging Export or Trade Documents at the Shipper/exporters or beneficiary’s bank, as part of trade-related financial transactions or compliance requirements.
17. Proforma Invoice: Description: A preliminary invoice provided by the seller to the buyer before the completion of a trade transaction. It outlines the terms, estimated costs, and specifications of the goods to be supplied.
18. Shipment Advice: Description: A communication sent by the seller or shipper to the buyer, in the form of an e-mail or a fax message, notifying them that the goods have been dispatched for shipment. It provides details about the shipments departure and expected arrival.
19. Non-wood Packaging Declaration: Description: An official declaration stating that the trade items do not contain wood or wood-based materials, ensuring compliance with import regulations and environmental standards.
20. Tax Invoice: Description: An invoice that includes the value of goods or services along with applicable taxes, providing a comprehensive breakdown of costs for tax reporting and accounting purposes.
21. Cover Letter: Description: A formal letter accompanying trade documents, providing context, explanations, and additional information to recipients or regulatory authorities.
22. EX188 – Condition as to Certificate: It is the Declaration and Certificate as to Condition issued for the certification of non-prescribed goods being exported from Australia to satisfy the following conditions: (The importing country requirements for the goods) (Any matters to be specified on the certificate concerning goods of that kind that are to be exported.)
23. ISF (Importer Security Filing): A filing submitted by the importer or their agent to provide advance security information about imported goods to customs authorities, enhancing supply chain security and risk management. the ISF is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulation that affects ocean shipments entering the United States.
24. Lodgement PDF: A digital submission of important trade documents to official channels, serving as an official record of trade activities and compliance.
25. Exporter’s Statement Letter: A formal written affirmation issued by the exporter, asserting the accuracy or compliance of specific information related to the trade transaction.
26. Certificate of Quality: An official document verifying the quality and specifications of traded goods, often detailing factors such as standards, testing results, and compliance with industry regulations.
27. MO14 Dangerous Goods: A regulatory document addressing the proper handling, labelling, and documentation of hazardous or dangerous goods during transportation, ensuring safety and compliance with international regulations.
28. Packing Declaration: An official statement provided by the exporter or shipper confirming that the goods have been appropriately packed, labelled, and secured for safe transportation.
29. Quarantine Declaration: A declaration issued to comply within a country’s quarantine regulations, confirming that imported goods meet the country’s biosecurity and environmental requirements.
30. Non-radioactive Certificate: A certification confirming that traded items are free from or have not been exposed to radioactive materials, ensuring compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
31. Debit Note: A formal notice issued by a seller to indicate a debt owed by the buyer, often arising from discrepancies or adjustments in trade transactions.
32. Bank Draft: A negotiable instrument used for transferring funds between banks, often utilized in trade finance and cross-border payment settlements.
33. Packing Instructions: Comprehensive instructions provided by the shipper to ensure proper and secure packaging of goods for transportation, minimizing risks of damage or loss.
34. Certificate of Weight: An official certificate issued to confirm the accurate weight of traded goods, essential for shipping calculations, customs assessment, and cargo handling.
35. Certificate of Quantity and Quality: An official certification attesting to both the quantity and quality standards met by the traded goods, often used to assure buyers and regulatory authorities of the product’s specifications.
36. Credit Note: A formal document indicating a credit amount owed to a party, typically issued in response to an overpayment or adjustment in trade transactions.
37. Certificate of Free Sale: An official document confirming that traded goods are legally available for sale in a particular jurisdiction, often required for products subject to regulatory approval or consumer safety standards.
38. Halal Certificate: A Halal Certificate is an official document that confirms a product, service, or facility adheres to Islamic dietary laws. It’s issued by recognized bodies and assures compliance with specific guidelines for ingredients, preparation, and ethics. This certification is essential for global trade, especially in markets with significant Islamic populations, as it demonstrates alignment with Islamic dietary and ethical preferences, enabling better market access and consumer trust.

This is just a glimpse into the intricate tapestry of global trade documentation to provide as reference tool for global trade management. For global trade practitioners who navigate the complex terrain of international commerce, mastering these nuances is essential. Yet, even the most adept global trade and export management professionals understand the value of innovative solutions that can further streamline their export operations. Discover how ImpexDocs redefines the landscape of trade documentation, logistics and compliance. Book a demonstration today and experience firsthand how ImpexDocs platform can elevate your global trade processes, enhance operational efficiency, and empower your team to better manage the challenges of modern global trade with confidence.

Contact us now to schedule your exclusive ImpexDocs demonstration.

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A request for permit is an electronic form you must submit to the Department of Agriculture before exports. It contains the following information: importing country, date of slaughter or production, product codes, product description, and freezing dates.

What are Health certificates?

The health certificate is a document that contains information about the producer, their facilities, and their products. Many countries require it to import certain products into their country, including fruit and vegetables. You can electronically generate this certificate form by using the EXDOC system if you want to export your products.

What are Phytosanitary Certificates?

It is a report from your company on any pests or diseases found in your facility or product. The certificate includes details about whether your facility or products are free from diseases to prevent them from spreading. Some countries require a phytosanitary certificate to export the products from some countries overseas.

Is there a difference between health certificates and phytosanitary certificates?

The short answer is: yes.

These certificates are two distinct things. One is about the health of plants, and the other is about their safe transport. You can apply for a health certificate at any time. Still, it would help if you waited until an inspection had cleared your product before applying for a phytosanitary certificate.

What do they mean in practical terms? Let’s say you have a broccoli shipment to your customers in Australia. The local regular will inspect the broccoli to determine that it’s perfectly safe to eat. But now they need to ensure that you can ship it across the borders without any problems at customs checkpoints. That’s when you need to get a phytosanitary certificate!

If you’re planning to import/export goods, you’ll need to ensure that your products are safe from pests and diseases. You can get a health certificate from the government. It is a statement that says your goods are free of pests and diseases. If you’re importing, the government will also issue phytosanitary certificates confirming that your products are free of harmful substances.

Phytosanitary certificates are a necessary part of importing and exporting plants between countries

There are two types of phytosanitary certificates, one for plant health and one for plant pests. The main difference is that one is to verify that the plant will be safe. However, another is to confirm that there are no pests or diseases on the plant that are being exported/imported.

You must be wondering about the role of a phytosanitary certificate.

It is to protect Australian plants and plant-based products from more than 200 quarantine pests that have destroyed countless crops. In simpler terms, this certificate ensures that your export is free from harmful insects and fungal diseases. They are most likely to infest or destroy other crops grown in Australia.

For export, you will nearly always need to produce phytosanitary/health certificates specific to the export destination. Australian Biosecurity control requires these certificates for a commodity to be released. So, it is essential to start planning three months of expiry!

As you continue your research, please keep in mind the information outlined above, which should help expedite exporting agro commodities. As you work through each step and gather relevant information, remember that the time invested now will help grow. We hope this blog has been informative to you. If there is anything we can assist you with further down the road, please let us know. We are here to help make this process as seamless as possible. Goodbye!

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What is the Statement for Cost Recovery Implementation?

The implementation statement for cost recovery for grain exports 2021-22 provides information on how the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Water recoups expenses from the grain cost recovery plan. It also reports financial as well as non-financial performance. This statement contains the forecast for 2021-22 and the next three years.

Continue reading this blog to better understand the Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS) findings and how cost recovery over the coming years will impact grain exporters in Australia.

Policy and Statutory Authority to Cost Cover

In the 2020-21 budget, the Government announced the Busting Congestion for Agricultural Exporters package. It was a policy authority responsible for regulating export certification activities. This package sets out a period of partial cost recovery from 2020-21 to 2021-22 whilst waiting for reforms that will enable a return to full cost recovery in 2023-24. It is expected that exporters will pay the increasing costs.

The reform package for “Busting Congestion for Agricultural Exporters”  focuses on three factors. Efficient regulation, connected digital services, and expanded market access protect Australia’s reputation as a world leader in agricultural trade. Industry and government will do this through regular revisions and adjustments of measures that impact export cost recovery, extending to each CRIS across export regulatory services.

Cost Recovery Arrangement Aimed at Grain Exports

The cost recovery plan for grain exports simplifies its cost base. First, regulation for plant exportation is according to the export legislative framework. You can find more regulation information for plant exportation on the Department’s website or read our blog post here.

In the implementation statement for cost recovery grain of exports 2021-22, there have been adjustments to the grain export Cost Base (the fees associated with exporting grain). These adjustments include the expanded cost recovery measures within the 2018-19 budget. Expanded cost recovery activities implemented from 1st July 2019 include enforcement, scientific advice, and support, which have increased the cost base by $1 million.

The 2021-22 implementation statement will include reductions in the cost base due to greater efficiencies with the Authorised Officer Program.

Design of Regulatory Charges

The CRIS outlines a mix of regulatory fees-for-service and levies. Service fees are applicable when regulations apply to an organisation or individual. These are regulations such as inspection of goods, assessment of export certification, and audit of registered premises.

The regulation of an industrial sector requires the payment of cost recovery charges. These charges recover the costs of maintaining the integrity and regulatory infrastructure through program management and administration. There were no changes in the types of fees and reasons for charges.

Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholders are a significant part of the management and development of these recovery arrangements. Their primary role is to understand how the Department’s regulatory activities impact their business.

They do this to ensure the cost recovery implementation statement is updated as expected and to provide information on its performance. The relevant department can then design, plan and evaluate stakeholder activities.

The Department’s principal purpose is to listen and engage meaningfully, which it achieves by explaining the objectives and context of stakeholder agreement. It also provides sufficient time for the stakeholders to engage in the consultation process.

The department also reviews how previous feedback has been considered and plans to review annual cost recovery implementation to monitor and review regulatory charges. They also design revised fees and charges in the cost recovery implementation statement documents.

Industrial Engagement

The Agriculture, Water, and Environment Department has been engaging with the export industry since 2018 on matters related to charging arrangements. Supported by 13 public meetings with export stakeholders, the department released them to the public between October 2019 and January 2020.

The stakeholders received a description of the impact of the Busting Congestion Package in February 2021.

Risk Assessment

A charging risk assessment is necessary for a charging proposal such as CRIS. It helps analyse and identify regulatory charging risks.

The high-risk implementation categories have new cost-recoverable activities, with a percentage change in annual cost-recovery revenue exceeding 10%.

Other implementation categories are considered low risk. They include changes in the level of existing cost recovery charges and the stakeholders’ sensitivity to the proposed changes.

The Department also considers the risks associated with cost-recovering grain export certification activities and how it manages them.

Financial Estimates and Non-financial Performance

The government will not change the cost recovery reserve for financial estimates. The reserve deficit will continue until they decide to address it.

The Department is committed to consulting with the industry stakeholders to learn more about the performance indicators. Doing so helps them in evaluating their regulatory arrangement’s accomplishment.

For non-financial performance indicators, the Department should connect with industry stakeholders to help with its evaluation.

Improve your Export Processes with ImpexDocs

The Export Control Act 2020 has made it easier for Australian exporters to access global markets, thanks to the government’s efforts to maintain market access for agricultural exports.

But a warning. You will face enforceable penalties if you export goods that are not compliant with the requirements of the export control legislation act.

Get in touch with us at ImpexDocs. We help hundreds of exporters like you stay on top of the regulatory paperwork and compliance required to export goods from Australia via our Export Management Software and Export Management Services.

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In this episode, we welcome Nathan Hyde, CEO of Yarra Valley Dairy and Nikki Rynia, Export Manager of Yarra Valley Dairy.

Nathan and Nikki share many insights on this 20-year export success story, including:

• How the company started from an experiment in a family home.
• The steps to growing an iconic Australian brand.
• The artisan cheese product that put Yarra Valley Dairy on the map.
• How they’ve experienced up to 60% growth, despite the pandemic.
• Why competitors cannot emulate their premium product.
• How they overhauled their brand for a greater connection to the product.
• Why ‘world domination’ isn’t always better.
• The must-have business ingredient to list within a supermarket.
• How they circumnavigated challenges, and the lessons you can apply to your business.
• How to spread your risk in terms of distribution.
• 5 Top Tips to enter the export market.

Nathan Hyde is CEO of Yarra Valley Dairy, Australia’s much-loved, award-winning artisan cheese manufacturer. With a 20-year successful history of exporting to global markets, Yarra Valley Dairy and Yarra Valley Cheese is located in one of Australia’s premium wine and dairy locations, with a cheese factory and cheese shop on-site. To learn more, visit https://yvd.com.au/

Episode 2: Yarra Valley Dairy

[00:00:00] Nikki Rynia, Export Manager, Yarra Valley Dairy: So we have previously for about 20 years, we’ve been exporting to the middle east. So that market has been fantastic throughout COVID as well. We’ve seen some really good growth. 46% growth from pre COVID numbers.

[00:00:13] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: Hello and welcome to the Global Trade Made Easy Podcast. In this podcast, we speak to the global trade leaders, innovators and influences from around the world. and Australia. We talk about ideas that can disrupt your organization, industry, or even careers. So let’s dig in.

Hi everybody. This is Tejus Oza I’m the Chief Revenue Marketing Officer for Impex Docs. In today’s show, we will be talking to Nathan Hyde, CEO of Yarra Valley Dairy. And also Nikki Rynia, the Export Manager from Yarra Valley Dairy.

Welcome, Nathan and Nikki.

[00:00:45] Nathan Hyde, CEO, Yarra Valley Dairy: Thank you. Thank you very much, Tejus. Good to be with you.

[00:00:48] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: Good to be with you as well. Let’s talk about the inception of Yarra Valley Dairy. Can you tell us a little bit about how Yarra Valley Dairy started or how you got engaged Nathan with Yarra Valley Dairy and, uh, the journey so far.

[00:01:02] Nathan Hyde, CEO, Yarra Valley Dairy: Sure. I will let Nikki take you through the journey of the dairy, but I joined the business three years ago. So, as the CEO. A long background in food and beverage, manufacturing, distribution, marketing, and so on. The real appeal for me was to join a business that had brand integrity and also something that I could, uh, work with a great team and shape and, you know, put them into a position that really has us at the forefront of that artisan cheese making within Australia.

And it’s an industry that was fledgling for a little while there, but it really seems to be lifting and growing. And interest in cheese at the moment is very strong. The progression of our brands is pretty high in demand. A while ago I created the role of Export Manager. Nikki’s been with the business for around about 12 plus years.

Initially as National Sales Manager and then Nicki had a break to spend some time with her family and a well deserved one I might add. But I wanted to keep Nikki engaged in the business because of Nikki’s experience and also understanding of the whole artisan cheese category. And so I just asked Nikki to come back in a capacity that worked for her more than anything else and her family.

And so Nik’s been doing the export role now for around about 18 months and is really starting to make some solid inroads. And we’ll talk more about that later on, but Nik it’d be great if you could take Tejus through the history of the dairy, how it came about. Cuz I think you’re a bit stronger in that area than me to be honest.

[00:02:42] Nikki Rynia, Export Manager, Yarra Valley Dairy: Very happy to. One of the things I’ve loved about working at the dairy is being able to be a part of this story. You know, and to work with Mary Mooney, who is the original owner of the dairy, who really started this whole vision and business. So it’s been, yeah, an incredible journey to be part of that story.

And really where that story began was in 1994, when Mary who lived on the farm, which was her original family’s home, began to experiment with making some cheese, really for her family. So it was a really simple style cheese that she was making. I think originally she was even hanging the cheese from, you know, cheese cloth on the back of a chair in the kitchen.

It was a very simple, soft farmhouse style of cheese. But Mary’s absolute dedication and persistence and vision to create something unique was what started the process of creating Persian Feta. So Australia’s first marinated cheese, which I think most people listening, I hope have tried this style of cheese and are well versed in Yarra Valley Dairy Persian Feta. So for me, it was a real no brainer. Same as Nathan, to come on board with a really iconic Australian brand and be part of that story. And being part of a family owned business. If anyone out there is, has been, part of one, you know you really do become part of the family.

It’s incredible. And I think people, when I meet them, they just assume that I am actually one of the members of the family. Because you do, you get so incredibly passionate and you get involved in all different areas of the business from, you know, where I started, which was in the factory washing cheese molds, to making cheese. Terrible cheese, by the way. I only lasted about a week in that role before the team, I think, realized I’d be better talking about cheese and selling it, than making. But I think it really is just about being part of such an iconic Australian brand for us working with Mary and an incredible team. To just keep that tradition alive and make handmade, beautiful cheeses.

It is a slow process. You have to be dedicated, I think, to be part of artisan cheese in Australia. It’s not a commodity cheese, it’s a very artisan product that we make. But yeah, just an incredible journey to be part of it.

[00:04:59] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: That’s a beautiful story. So tell me one thing you mentioned Persian Feta. Tell me more about it.

[00:05:05] Nikki Rynia, Export Manager, Yarra Valley Dairy: Absolutely. Have you tried it?

[00:05:06] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: I have actually.

[00:05:08] Nikki Rynia, Export Manager, Yarra Valley Dairy: So I think the most incredible thing about Persian Feta is it’s very different to a traditional feta. It really is this indulgent, incredibly creamy like luscious mouth feel that you get from this product. And one of the main difference is being cows milk.

So traditionally feta is a goat or sheep combination, but what makes our product so incredible, it is this incredibly decadent, creamy cows milk cheese that you get at the base of this product. It’s then brined or dry salted and marinated in oil and herbs. We use only the best milk that we can source. The best herbs.

All of the ingredients are really premium. So the end result is just an incredibly beautiful and decadent product. We’ve found over the years, a lot of people have emulated this style of cheese, but if you cut corners with this style of cheese, you just don’t get the overall premium product that it needs to be.

And I think that’s why it’s stood the test of time and has been championed by chefs and retailers, and delis for over 25 years now.

[00:06:14] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: I’m only feeling like having some Persian Feta cheese now. You explain so beautifully. So Nikki, tell me one thing in your new role of being the Export Manager, what’s the role and how do you go about finding your markets and what do you do.

[00:06:30] Nikki Rynia, Export Manager, Yarra Valley Dairy: Yeah. So when I first came back to the dairy in the role of export manager, I was looking for a challenge, but my goodness COVID. I picked a very challenging time to come back in this role. And I, look, I had big plans to travel, to get out into new markets, to meet buyers, to conduct tastings, and all the fantastic things that you would do as part of an export strategy. But unfortunately, with COVID that wasn’t a possibility. So for me, it was a good opportunity to go back to the drawing board, to look at our story, to look at our ingredients, our packaging, and really, you know, so for me, it was about reigniting with what our story was, what made us incredibly unique, and why export markets would be interested in the product.

So it’s been an incredible process to do that. To take that story and those products out to the market. It’s been very challenging to get people, to sample the product, obviously with freight, being an issue. But the interest that we now have, I think the perception of Australian products overseas is they are premium.

So we’re in a good space there. And I think particularly dairy, I think the interest in Australian dairy is growing immensely. So it’s really been about getting our story out there, getting products out to people. And look, as soon as I can get back out in the markets and start traveling again, it’s gonna be fantastic.

Cause I think, for me, it’s such an incredible product. I can just let the product do the talking.

[00:08:01] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: Right, right. Makes sense. And in terms of your current target markets, what are those target markets you’re looking at for your cheese?

[00:08:10] Nikki Rynia, Export Manager, Yarra Valley Dairy: So we have previously for about 20 years, we’ve been exporting to the Middle East.

So that market has been fantastic throughout COVID as well. We’ve seen some really good growth, you know, sort of 40%, 60% growth from pre COVID numbers, there. So, we’re looking to increase our retail opportunities in those markets.

The UK, we have incredible interest from the market over there. But freight has been a challenge. We’re hoping to be back in the US in the next 12 months. Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea is just about to come on board. So we’ve got a lot of interest. I think the good thing for us is being a handmade product.

We’re not looking for world domination. We’re just looking to find the right fit in the right market. So we’re looking for the high end premium delis, retail spaces. So at the moment, it really is just about finding the right distribution and the right fit.

[00:09:06] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: Right, right. Understand, understand. And, Nathan, you joined as a CEO before some time. Can I ask you, what’s your vision for Yarra Valley Dairy?

[00:09:19] Nathan Hyde, CEO, Yarra Valley Dairy: Look, there’s a couple of answers there, Tejus. It’s Yarra Valley Dairy itself. We want position as one of the leading handmade artists and cheese products in this country and internationally. Yarra Valley Cheese, which is made in a different technique to Yarra Valley Dairy, but still a premium product.

And that is really well positioned through our major trading partners, such as Woolworths and Coles and Costco, Aldi. And again, that’s a great opportunity for us to enter markets such as the UAE, New Zealand, because they’re quite strong with supermarket trade themselves. So it’s a really good footprint for us to get in there.

When I first came on board, it was about working out and restructuring both brands, because the team were a little confused with what Yarra Valley Cheese meant to them and what Yarra Valley Dairy meant to them. So our marketing manager worked very hard on gathering data and working out what those brands actually meant to our consumers.

And certainly the first piece of work that Catherine did was the Yarra Valley Cheese rebrand. But also digging into what the values of that brand were and why do our consumers love it? Why do they want to eat this? Why is it growing with our trading partners? And so the vision was to get the brands right, and for the team internally to understand who we are pushing towards.

As Nikki mentioned that about picking the right partners internationally for us and what brands sit where. So it’s not about chasing volume. We have interest from a major trading partner in the United States, and if they push the go button tomorrow, capacity wise we would be in a world of pain. So a nice challenge to have, right. But it’s, again, a lot of capital expenditure to build and expand.

Ideally, what we want to do is position ourselves as a leading premium artisan cheese maker in our areas of expertise. But to also then underpin that with financial stability for the business to move forward so that we can do that confidently and expand our footprint essentially.

And that might be through manufacturing or building new facilities or whatever it may be into the future. So, that’s a decision that Mary and some of her board and confidants would make that decision on, in conjunction hopefully with myself. But, I think where we’re headed at the moment and certainly creating the role of export, is more about making sure that we spread our risk as a business as well.

I love doing business with everybody, but it’s good that you don’t have, you know, one particular trading partner that might be 25, 30, 35% of your business and if you lose a listing within a supermarket, it can hurt you quite badly from a cashflow perspective.

So our mantra really is to get awareness of the brands, but we want to do it in the way that we’ve always done it. And that’s about letting the products speak for itself. But Nikki will tell you more about this, but the rebrand of Yarra Valley Dairy, the labeling is just second to none. Some of the photographs and videos that have been done recently for that brand, like you said earlier, Tejus, where Nikki’s describing the cheese, it makes you want to eat it.

You look at some of these visuals and you look at the rebranding of Yarra Valley Dairy and Yarra Valley Cheese, and I’m very proud of the team of where they’ve got it to. Because it actually speaks a premium product to our audience.

[00:12:58] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: Nice. So obviously your strategy is expand the revenue and cash flow sources, I guess. Yarra Valley being a position that it is a premium brand, but position as on the premium brand, uh, your strategies that you want to distribute through supermarkets, if I heard Nikki, correct. And Nathan, you also mentioned that, you know, some of those markets have strong supermarket culture, strong supermarket environment. And that helps your brand to get distributed as well. So am I hearing it right? That’s the core strategy, that’s how you are thinking, Nikki?

[00:13:35] Nikki Rynia, Export Manager, Yarra Valley Dairy: Yeah, I think, as Nathan mentioned, because we do have two brands within the company.

So we have our Yarra Valley Cheese brand, which we do service more of the FMCG market and our Yarra Valley Dairy brand, which is more fruit service. It’s more your premium artisan ranging. So we do have the ability to service both markets. And absolutely I think within some of the markets that we’re approaching there is opportunity within the supermarket space. I think for me, it’s, you know, as it has worked domestically here, to champion the artisan range within food service, you know, to have chefs who are putting that product on the menu, you know, recognizing that it is Yarra Valley Dairy, marinated cheese.

I think is such a great way to get some gravitas behind the brand and some interest with the product. And that’s where we’re really lucky to have those two brands. So we can sit in both of those spaces.

[00:14:33] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: Yep. Makes sense. Makes sense. Absolutely. And you mentioned some challenges obviously because of COVID, et cetera. How has been the business in last 12 months? How is it looking currently and what are the key challenges at the moment?

[00:14:50] Nikki Rynia, Export Manager, Yarra Valley Dairy: So for export, really it’s the similar challenges that most exporters have been facing, obviously with freight, with port delays.

I think we’ve been so lucky with the existing markets where we’ve had those relationships, and those logistics set ups already in place. We’ve been really lucky to keep those markets going, but new markets has been a huge challenge during COVID. You have buyers overseas who are similar to they are here.

They’re stressed, they’re understaffed. They’re trying to minimize risk. So sometimes taking on board a new customer that you haven’t received a shipment of before, or trial the product, was a risk. Getting buyers to move forward with a product without having any sampling available in store.

It’s hard for us going into a lot of markets, because marinated fresh cheese isn’t even a product in a lot of markets globally. I recently was entering our cheese in a world cheese award and there wasn’t even a category for marinated cheese. So it shows you that we’re really going onto a global arena that consumers are not sure really yet what to do with this product.

So for us to get that message and show people what the application is with this new product, without doing that with sampling, has proven very tricky. I think that’s why you were saying I’m getting better at talking about cheese because for the last 12 months, I’ve had to sit in front of buyers and eat cheese on the screen and talk about it, which is, it’s very, very tricky.

And staff has been a huge challenge, hasn’t it Nathan? I think domestically, I think everyone’s in the same boat there. But we are feeling a bit of ease I think in that department. We’ve been able to hire some incredible staff members over the last couple of weeks. And cost of goods.

[00:16:37] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: Right, right. Yeah, I mean, this is something which, I guess, many Australian businesses, in fact, most businesses around the world are facing. Would that be fair to say, Nathan, is that the kind of challenges which we are facing in Australia and you as a business as well? The other dairy manufacturers around the world or, your competitors, in other market or other countries as an example, or even in Australia, are facing probably the similar kind of challenges, right?

[00:17:04] Nathan Hyde, CEO, Yarra Valley Dairy: Yeah, absolutely they are. I’ve described the the second half of financial year 22 is the most challenging six months I’ve ever seen in business.

It really came to the forefront for myself in about the middle of December last year. And there’s been a lot of sleepless nights. There has been, you know, how do we cycle through this? Because all of a sudden one of our key ingredients, the second most valuable ingredient that goes into our product in terms of oil, doubled in price in, you know, in not a very long space of time.

And to pass on price increases is quite a logistical challenge in particular with our trading partners who do expect a 90 day period where they can adjust their own pricing. This was followed up by labor shortages and then labor increases in terms of costs, raw material costs in terms of packaging increasing.

And then usually the new year milk pricing you’ll receive that from the farm is usually in May, first week of May. So that’s when I usually finalize the budget for the next financial year. Once we’ve got that and can work out what the cost of goods are going to be. I received that on the 28th of June, at 6:00 PM and nearly fell off my chair because it was a 35.2% price increase in milk.

Now this has sort of been brought around from, uh, we are lucky. We’ve had a relationship with suppliers for quite some time, and we know the quality of product we get is outstanding. And as a business, and one of our core values is that we do pay farm gate levies because the farmers have done it hard for a number of years.

And good on them this year. They’re making, as the old expression goes, make hay while the sun shines. We had to lock in our annual volume straight away because I had my priority was to protect the business based on what we see as a forecast, as a budget for the year. And at this point in time in Australia is going to be a shortage of milk in certainly the second half of financial year into 2023.

Now that depends on what international markets do. There’s a small rumor that maybe New Zealand might have some excess milk, which could find its way across to Australia and assist with some dairy products, being cheese and so on. We personally wouldn’t use it because we hang our hat on the fact that we’re 99.9% of Australian content. And we source as much locally as we possibly can.

So, yeah, very challenging period. We had a terrific catch up with the team on Wednesday and we sort of talked about where we, I love to do a reflection piece with the team and we talk about, you know, 12 months ago when we did the planning for the financial year just gone. And each of the team, I don’t think anyone gets an opportunity to stop and think about what they’ve done and what they’ve achieved within that 12 month period against what their strategies were for the year. And I think each and every departmental head that talked about the year had just about ticked most of those boxes, except for a lot of the unforeseen ones that nobody saw coming. So again, really good planning from the team. But the second half hit us pretty hard.

We saw, as I said, the cost increases and small revenue increases, but that’s offset by price increases and some severely hefty ones as well. So, um, we were very fortunate that for the start of financial year, I managed to have some meetings with some of the senior executives within our trading partners and talk to them about the challenges ahead and they have all very supportive in moving the prices forward and wanting to support Australia dairy industry, which is great, and we’re also very grateful for.

Nikki, same thing, uh, trying to establish some of these export markets and then going straight back to our trading partners internationally and saying, oh, by the way, I’m terribly sorry, but we’ve gotta lift the prices before we’ve even shipped a box. And again, very supportive understanding what the challenges are within. So, um, unfortunately it’s an erosion of farmers not having made enough money in previous years off their cattle, for milking purposes.

So the amount of cattle in Australia available for dairy has dwindled across the years. It’s showing signs of recovery and it now needs encouragement from bodies, such as Dairy Australia, and dairy industry, that will try and encourage farmers to continue to expand that. And, uh, I’ve always been a believer in paying a fair price for materials so that it’s more sustainable, longer term.

Let’s fix prices for three years, five years, whatever it might be. And if that’s a higher price at the beginning, that’s okay. And if the market fluctuates up and down, it still protects everybody. When I first joined the business, we couldn’t lock in milk contracts for 12 month period because it was literally, if there was an abundance, it would be cheaper. If there was a shortage, you would pay a lot more. I explained and sat down with suppliers that we couldn’t operate like that and have a model that way, because it’s, we can’t have these major fluctuations on our cost of goods because it’s all at the wrong time of year. We need to set out an average.

So we managed to work with, uh, suppliers that lock in prices for us for 12 month period, so that we can cover the financial year quite soundly and, and know what we’re reporting against.

[00:22:35] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: It makes so much of sense, you know, locking in prices that gives you this certainty that also gives your customer certainty of pricing.

So I think that’s very, very nice, and then makes so much of sense. Now talking about May. You referred to May in another way, but, uh, I, I, uh, read one of the news pieces that you had won some award of where in the Dairy Industry Association, of the national product awards, one of the awards for your cheese, is that correct Nikki?

[00:23:03] Nikki Rynia, Export Manager, Yarra Valley Dairy: We actually won the World Cheese Awards about 15 years ago for the Persian Fetta. We produce an amazing array of products. So we have our marinated cheeses, but we also make, um, as we mentioned, the Hubert’s which is an incredible washed rind cheese, and our semi-mature goats cheeses quite often win awards.

Our Gentle Goat, which is a very beautiful, fresh goats cheese, quite often wins awards as well. And that product is just it’s really a testimony to the pure, goat milk, the amazing goat milk that we purchased from a farm in Mansfield.

[00:23:40] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: So Nikki tell me one thing. You told me that you have spoken in last 12 months online, uh, tested cheese, talked about it, to new potential customers and new customers, or even existing customers for the new products, et cetera. Um, tell me, what do you tell your potential new buyers about your cheese? Why they should be choosing your products versus your competitors products?

[00:24:06] Nikki Rynia, Export Manager, Yarra Valley Dairy: Yeah, absolutely. Our products are obviously all Australian made from premium local milk. Um, as I mentioned earlier, many people have tried to emulate the style of Persian Feta since its creation in 94. But one of the key elements of Persian Feta is obviously Australian ingredients, premium ingredients.

A lot of people in Australia make a style of Persian Feta, which unfortunately can sit at around 30% Australian ingredients. There are a lot of producers who will purchase, Danish, feta, or fetas from other parts of the world and then repackage that here in Australia. So we pride ourselves on only producing from Australian ingredients.

Our recipe has not really changed since 1994 before when Mary first created the product. The only difference that we have made, is just improvements to the packaging, looking at sustainability. Uh, we are always looking to improve the ingredients and make sure, for example, you know, we’ve recently changed our garlic to Australian garlic so always looking for improvements.

[00:25:15] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: So Nathan, we talked about last 12 months, we talked about some of the challenges, et cetera. I guess markets are changing. Uh, the freight situation is stabilizing slightly, uh, as compared to last, uh, let’s say six months, eight months back. What is your future strategy, let’s say for next 24, 12 to 24 months. How do you see the business? And what are your key elements of the strategy?

[00:25:43] Nathan Hyde, CEO, Yarra Valley Dairy: When we’ve taken on board all of these price increases that I’ve spoken to you about in terms of raw materials, for us when we’ve passed on those price increases, it’s about stabilizing.

I wouldn’t refer to us as opportunists and think that we could add a little bit more margin and make a little bit more money. We want to work with our partners in terms of making sure that we deliver, uh, a great product that’s good value to the consumer overall. So that is always top of mind and key as part of our strategy. Is that everything we do is the very best that we can put out all the time.

So we monitor quality all the time. In terms of freight issues and challenges. Um, Nikki knows my thoughts on terms of, we like to do everything FOB when it’s going into the export markets, because the fluctuations, the freight generally, we don’t make money on freight. We don’t wanna make money on freight.

So if people are asking us for, um, CIF terms, it’s really hard. We’ve been fortunate enough to, uh, have been served in first class on Emirates for, it’s now in its 14th year with Yarra Valley Dairy Persian Feta. Now we export 20 foot refrigerated reefers across to them.

When I joined the business, you’re talking about $2,500 thereabouts to, uh, get that from the Port of Melbourne into Dubai. That’s now pushing up towards $13,000 in that, in what are we talking three years? It’s incredible. And, uh, Emirates have not faulted in the fact that they still want to serve that product.

And yes, if you travel first class, I’m sure the additional freight cost can be factored and allowed for. But it it also adds a layer of complexity to their business in terms of additional costs as well. So, uh, when that happens, it’s like everything, it all pushes back onto all of us. We pay more for airfares and so on and so forth.

So look, our strategy is about keeping our portfolio very high quality, fairly simple. We have a new product development team, which Nikki is a part of. So we’re always looking at innovation within the business that meets the ethos and values of the business. So it has to remain preservative free. It has to remain, you know, going into sustainable packaging. It has to be something that is within the realms of what we are capable of doing, but also delivering something to our consumers to make sure that they are trying new products. So, we certainly have a fairly full calendar for the next, uh, 12 to 24 months.

So range, expansion, market expansion, and again, taking the key risks out of business by spreading our risk in terms of distribution and who we work with around the world.

[00:28:37] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: Nice, nice. So if I just play it back, what I heard from you, basically, we are talking about changing the terms, commercial terms and core terms, which will make sure the freight, do not become the barrier as such, in a way, from your, perspective, right?

Changing to FOB where possible, that’s one thing, obviously, new market development with the new product introductions. That’s the other thrust of the strategy. They’re the core factors. Plus obviously keeping, uh, the overall quality extremely high as per ethos and principles, that they are the key elements of the strategy. Would that be fair submission?

[00:29:15] Nathan Hyde, CEO, Yarra Valley Dairy: Yeah, it’s a very good summary, absolutely spot on. We’re not an overly complicated business, it’s, it is more about making sure that people are safe products safe, um, and, and what we deliver to the consumer is absolutely spot on.

So, and also giving the team that confidence in our products as well. I mean, it’s great to sit down with a member from the production team and say, do you realize that, you know, that tub of Persian Feta that you’ve just made sells for $16. And they look at you and they go, does it really? You know, I’m say, look, when you go into a supermarket, take a look at it, take some pride because you’ve done that. You’ve had a hand in making that.

And that really makes somebody feel quite good. That cheese that you mentioned earlier, that Hubert’s. When we were developing that product and we’ve done a lot of work on that. Nikki was part of that team in Nikki’s previous role and, uh, Nikki and Catherine, who’s, the marketing manager, came to me and they said, right, this is the product. And took me through the whole premise of it. And talked about our distribution partner in Australia here, Calendar Cheese Company for Yarra Valley Dairy and what price points could it retail for? And I looked at the price list. I looked at the market. And I said, I’d like to position this is a 180 gram piece of cheese. Washed rind.

I said, I’d like to position it at a retail price point of $18. Cath and Nikki nearly threw it at me and uh, and said, you’re kidding. That’s gonna be the most expensive washed rind in Australia. And I said, good. And let’s make it the best washed rind in Australia. So we spent a lot of time working with our artisan cheese maker to get it right, because, certainly, and let me tell you, we wasted a lot of product.

But eventually we got it right. That cheese now sells for over $20. And as you saw, it won the award and we’re super proud of it. It’s actually one of the biggest selling products in our retail venue. And we see approximately, you know, 250,000 visitors a year in a full year when there’s no lockdowns.

Nobody’s got a problem with buying it. Our distribution partner, they can’t get enough. We can only make a certain amount of it. But we still need to continue to innovate. So, certainly something I give a lot of thought to, and where we sit as a product I’d like to develop into, uh, into our major trading partners. And position that in a different part of the cheese category that they wouldn’t even contemplate. And the reason I wanna do that is because from a price point and quality perspective, I want it to sit in a different area, because it’s got a premium feel to it. And you know, most people, if it’s sat in the area, uh, of, of snacking, for example, we would stand out like a sore thumb because the price point would be double and a bit more. If you put that into a premium cheese area within a supermarket, I think it would sell, cuz people would see it and they’d look it up and they’d go, oh yeah, good. I trust the brand. And I think that is what we work so hard on is getting people to trust our brand. And that’s also part of our long term strategy.

[00:32:32] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: So tell me, Nikki. About this cheese I’m quite intrigued. So you brought the cheese to Nathan and his assessment was it’s a premium cheese to that level. Tell me about the cheese now.

[00:32:48] Nikki Rynia, Export Manager, Yarra Valley Dairy: Absolutely. So our inspiration for this product really was an. So really stinky, traditional French style wash rind. Which we, uh, you know, it was MP Dairy is one of the, the reasons why I’ve been here for so long. Some weeks I’ll have to sit around with the team and spend, you know, a good two or three hours a week just tasting cheese. And it is, it’s always a good day in the dairy when we are doing MP day. And we were very particular how we wanted this cheese to evolve.

We wanted it to take on its own life. I think like with any cheeses when you’re inspired by France or Italy you take inspiration from these cheeses. But when you make it here in Australia, with the milk, with the cheese makers, the different microbiology of the factory, it becomes something else.

It really becomes our take on this product and that’s how that product evolved. And I think, you know, we were a bit nervous to take on such a traditional French style cheese and make it our own. I think that’s where the hesitation came. You know, around just really owning it and moving forward and charging the price that we really needed to, to make this product worthwhile.

But my goodness, you know, it’s almost surpassed Persian Feta sales here at the dairy in the cheese shop. And it’s an incredible addition for both cheese boards, We do a baked top pot here in our cheese shop, which I was saying before you just dig in with crusty bread into this incredible product.

And, uh, it’s become a bit of a cult hit really here in the cheese shop. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to export that to the Middle East because it is washed in Brandy, but I’ll be finding some new markets for it hopefully soon. It is a challenge with shelf life with the semi mature products, because you’re really, you’re only looking at about six to eight week shelf life from production.

So, for me, minimizing risk and export at the moment, I’m really focusing on the marinaded cheeses, which have around six months shelf life. I’d have a few sleepless nights, I think, if I was exporting the six week, at the moment.

[00:34:53] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: Incredible. I’m looking forward to you finding ways to export it. It sounds like a fantastic product and yeah, I will visit your premises, especially to have that special recipe that you’re saying it’s becoming a cult. Fantastic.

[00:35:07] Nikki Rynia, Export Manager, Yarra Valley Dairy: And look, I think the great thing about exporting into new markets with this marinated cheese, is that, you know, we’re sending a product that is so typically Australian. I think in Australia, cheese making is relatively new, uh, in the industry.

And there’s not a lot of cheeses that we can call an Australian cheese. But since we created marinated cheeses in Australia, it really has become, well, it’s become a category in its own. Right. And I think in most retail spaces, it’ll be very hard to find a cheese section that doesn’t have some kind of representation of marinated fresh cheeses.

So I think there’s such an opportunity to grow that in export and make our own space. You know, really selling what is, what we say is just a jar of sunshine. It really is. It’s an example of Australia’s love of, you know, outdoors, salads, sharing food, premium products. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, say for example, in Europe and try and sell an Australian Cam or Bri, where we’re really selling a piece of Australian, lifestyle and a representation of our culture.

[00:36:16] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: Nice. So this is what I wanted to, you know, understand more. Tell me about this history of the marinated cheese. You’re telling me that, uh, Yarra Valley Dairy was the first in Australia to come up with this marinated cheese. Tell me about it because that’s a story what I think people should know.

[00:36:34] Nikki Rynia, Export Manager, Yarra Valley Dairy: Yeah, and look, it’s a great story. Mary was inspired. When she first started to produce a fresh cheese of some way of preserving the product and creating something new. I think she was around the time she invented it she was working with a lot of wineries and producers in the Yarra Valley.

I think around that time it was sun dried tomatoes were a big thing in the Yarra Valley. And I think that was her initial inspiration with the olive oil marinade. And she also worked with a cheese maker at the time who had been inspired by a lot of traditional preserving techniques.

So yeah, the idea was to marinate the product.

[00:37:11] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: Nathan, you have been exporting in such a long time at Yarra Valley Dairy. What would be your suggestion or guidance to any new exporter, or even your peers, uh, who wants to get into the export market?

What would be your suggestion to them? What should they keep in mind and how should they go?

[00:37:36] Nathan Hyde, CEO, Yarra Valley Dairy: Firstly, I’d say that choosing the right partner is paramount in any market and just making sure that the trading partners that you, you approach and you talk to you do a number of things.

So you really should be doing a fair amount of research in terms of their reach into the market, talking to some of their customers within the market to see how they perform. And how they treat your product in terms of logistics. But making sure most importantly, that it’s a fit for your brand, and that your brand is being represented to the level that you would like it to be.

And that is supported with, you know, Nikki being available to be in market moving forward. But really, to me, it’s about doing research to start with. It’s about having an innate understanding of your own brand and working out where you want to position it. Where do you want to be in that market?

Nikki and I spoke at huge length about where we wanted to be in the United Kingdom. And it was all about working with premium delis and cheese shops and going through a premium distributor. And it wasn’t about chasing the volume. It was about let’s build the brand slowly. And Nikki fought like crazy to get some product over to the UK because logistics was a nightmare.

And the great team at Austrade represented us at the London Food Fair. And what a hit, what an absolute hit. So that really gave us the impetus to work with this particular company. And this is who we will work with moving forward. But that’s taken Nikki I reckon the best part of 12 months to identify that company and to position our brand based against the brand values and our company values and who we want to work with.

So it’s more important that you find a positioning for your brand, but having that innate understanding of that plan. Where do you want to be? Which market channels do you want to go into? Who do you wanna speak to and how does your brand get represented? And certainly, in the past there’s always been a real, um, you know, particularly in my background wine industry, days from years ago, you would sometimes go and chase a volume market, and that would backfire more times than not, because you really didn’t have your plans, your brand plans and all those sorts of things in place and knowing the channels that you wanted to get into. So for us, it was a lot of consideration and thought before going there. And I’d recommend that to anybody. If it takes you an extra six months to find the right distribution partner, I would suggest that that’s okay.

[00:40:25] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: That’s really sound advice. Especially in today’s circumstances, it becomes even more important. So thank you, Nathan. That was, um, I’m sure people will benefit from the advice and from your experience. Thank you very much.

It is a fantastic story and I wish Yarra Valley Dairy and the Yarra Valley Cheese, both the brands, really well. Some of our best artisan cheese. So all the best. I would love to visit you when I’m in Victoria.

[00:40:51] Nathan Hyde, CEO, Yarra Valley Dairy: Please do. You’re very, very welcome.

[00:40:53] Tejas Oza, ImpexDocs: Thank you very much.

[00:40:54] ImpexDocs: This has been the Global Trade Made Easy Podcast. Thanks for tuning in. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast so you don’t miss an episode of innovative ideas from trade leaders across the globe. For even more insights on global trade, visit our website at impexdocs.com.au where we share resources for successful international trade management. Until next time, happy trading.

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However, the traditional offline process of applying for an EPN manually is completely outdated. The DAWE developed EXDOC (Export Documentation) System to make the process much more convenient. Consequently, the exporters can interact with this system to apply for EPNs and other important trade documents. An important feature of the system is its support for a Single Electronic Window (SEW).

What Is SEW?

Briefly, SEW is an arrangement using which the exporters can perform two important tasks in one go:

• Apply for an EPN with the DAWR
• Interact with the Customs’ Integrated Cargo System (ICS) to obtain Export Declaration Numbers (EDNs)

In other words, a single application can help exporters to apply for and obtain these two important entities.

What Are the Benefits?

1. Saves Time: The SEW can help you simultaneously obtain the EDNs and EPNs that save you a lot of precious time. In addition, you can also obtain important trade documents like Health/Phytosanitary Certificates in the process.
2. Reduced Paperwork: Clearly, one single application means reduced form filling. It means your documentation staff doesn’t need to bear the burden of traditional paper-based files which further saves time. Furthermore, you can expect better efficiency and productivity among documentation teams.
3. Saves Costs: Needless to say, electronic documentation procedures costs lower than traditional manual processes. It is because various departments charge less to issue different trade numbers and documents. Also, SEW further reduces the costs through a single application.
4. Reduced Errors: You can expect significantly reduced chances of errors by using the SEW arrangement. First, it involves automated information filling from centralised databases. Second, there are fewer forms involved. Third, it is much convenient to adhere to the required formats and international trade standards.
5. Fast Tracking: Obviously, it is easier to track the statuses of two different trade entities in one place. You don’t need to contact the DAWE and the Customs separately to know the status of your application.
6. On-time Shipping: The time saved in the process can contribute toward the chances of shipping as per the schedule. Because of the SEW, you can attend to the queries from the departments quickly and respond to them with the required documents. No delay means better profits and an improved business reputation!

Likewise, different document-approving authorities and departments have electronic arrangements to make export documentation compliant, error-free, fast and cost-efficient. Thus, delaying the switch from offline to electronic documentation might deprive your business of desired growth rate.

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Showing the certificate to concerned authorities will testify to the fact that you are dealing with plants/plant-based items that meet all export requirements. The section below will tell you more about phytosanitary certificates.

Introduction to Phytosanitary Certificates

Phytosanitary Certificates (PSCs) are government-issued certificates. You will need to show them when exporting/re-exporting various regulated items including plants and plant products. You will need these certificates to prove that all your consignments meet the phytosanitary import standards of the importing country.

Who issues these certificates? The exporting country’s water resources, food, agriculture, or horticulture department is responsible for issuing these certificates. To issue a PSC, one must have the authorisation of a relevant government agency. The government agency, on the other hand, must have the authorisation of the exporting nation’s NPPO or National Plant Protection Organisation. The primary responsibility of a country’s NPPO is to prevent illnesses, contaminants, or pests from spreading to the importing country.

3 Crucial Facts about Phytosanitary Certificates

Before you request for permits, you must know the following things:

• Without this certificate, it’s impossible to prove that the plants, plant-based goods, or other similarly regulated commodities you are exporting meet all the importing nation’s phytosanitary guidelines.
• You’ll need PSCs even for supporting the re-exporting of the products to other countries.
• In case of disagreements between the exporting and importing countries regarding the issuance of a PSC, NPPOs find a way through a mutual agreement. Amendments to the requirements of the PSC must adhere to non-discrimination and openness.

What Kind of Products Does a Phytosanitary Certificate Cover?

You must get a phytosanitary certificate if you are looking to export any of the following items:

• Tubers, plants, and bulks
• Branches, seeds meant for propagation, cut flowers, vegetables, fruits, and grain
• Growth media
• Processed plant-based products that have the chance of introducing controlled pests (examples include wood, cotton, etc.)
• Contaminated items like cars, shipping containers, and various organisms

How Long Does a Phytosanitary Certificate Remain Valid?

If you are exporting perishable items, the PSC’s validity will be a maximum of seven days before export. In the case of non-perishable items, the validity is one month. This helps the concerned authorities to maintain the consignments’ physical and phytosanitary integrity. To ensure that the certificate doesn’t become invalid, you must send the items immediately.

You must remember that obtaining a health/phytosanitary certificate is not easy. That’s because remembering all the rules and regulations often becomes difficult for exporters. The only way you can streamline the process is by opting for ImpexRFP. This software will allow you to apply for PSCs electronically and get the certificates quickly with 100% compliance. Using ImpexRFP will eliminate problems like low compliance, slow processing, and expensive processing fees and allow you to export your products without any hindrance.

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The answer is yes if the process involved:

• Faster turnaround
• No penalties and application rejections
• No unnecessary costs
• Most importantly, an accurate and fully-compliant certificate as the output

In case you miss out on one or more of these points, you really need to analyse the process closely. To help you, here is a small and useful guide.

Who Handles the Task?

Many exporters hire large teams of people to take care of their documentation needs. It obviously leads to a dramatic increase in the overall cost of obtaining a phytosanitary certificate. If you are in the same league, here’s what you need to do:

• First, hire a small team (consisting of 1-2 people) and train it well to follow the right procedure
• Second, provide them with the right kind of software tools and channels to accomplish the task more efficiently
• Third, instruct them to audit the process after every shipment and prepare reports to make improvements for the future

How Do You Apply?

Does your application to apply for a phytosanitary certificate get rejected repeatedly due to errors? Do you feel that the overall processing is slower than what you expect? If yes then the chances are high that you are still doing it manually. So, what are the risks involved in it?

• Firstly, repeated rejections can lead to huge time consumption. Needless to say, you may experience shipment delays more often.
• Secondly, it may be a reason for heavy penalties that your business may have to bear.
• Thirdly, what you may get is a non-compliant certificate that neither meets the norms of Australia’s Export Act nor caters to the importing country’s requirements.
• Besides, you may end up spending a lot of money that ultimately harms your anticipated profits.

The solution lies in automation. To automate the process of filling forms can significantly weed out the chances of human errors and the resulting consequences.

What Software Do You Use?

A lot may depend on the kind of software you currently use for the process. You can simply review it by answering the following questions:

• Is the software compatible with the EXDOC system of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE)?
• Do you use a traditional desktop-based solution or a cloud-based one that offers better flexibility and faster processing?
• Does it offer a customisable centralised dashboard to facilitate status tracking and better management?
• Are you able to use it for preparing other trade documents to save money as well as time?

By answering these questions, you can decide whether you need to change your software choice or not.

Due to the possible flaws and loopholes, you may be spoiling the reputation of your export business. Be honest in reviewing the process and immediately bring in the required changes for better results.

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• There are delays in shipping and your importer doesn’t receive the consignment on the designated time.
• Your business bears monetary losses and penalties as well as punishments.
• As an exporter, you fail to meet the international trade standards and norms and so on.

One of the most common reasons that push export businesses to such situations is inefficient export documentation. In fact, preparing accurate export documents is one task that a majority of exporters acknowledge among the most challenging ones. Let’s find out the top ways in which it can decide the hassle-free shipping of your export goods.

Human Errors Can be Disastrous

Manual handling of export-related data leads to slow processing. What makes it even more time-consuming is the human tendency to err. For example, consider you need to apply for export permit and the employee responsible for it makes a few wrong entries in the form. Needless to say, it can lead to repeated rejections, thereby leading to delays.

The solution is to automate the process. For this, you can choose a software tool, feed it with data and let it automatically fill in the forms every single time. It would not only save time, but can also save you from hefty costs.

Non-compliance Is Inexcusable

Undoubtedly, you need to be in complete sync with the prescribed formats and standards while preparing export document. For instance, a health certificate in Australia to ship animals or animal-based products should follow the guidelines aptly. Any sort of deviation may prove to be a roadblock for the Customs’ clearance.

Make sure that you and your documentation team stay up-to-date with the changing standards, both nationally and internationally. It should be noted that these updates are easily available on the internet.

Failure to Meet Importer’s Requirements

You may export to different importers who hail from different countries. Due to the fact that each country may have a different set of importing requirements, you need to be careful while preparing documents for specific destinations. One good example is that of phytosanitary certificate (for exporting plants and plant-based products) and health certificate (for the export of animals and animal-based products, as mentioned earlier).

Before you prepare these documents, make sure to refer to the Manual of Importing Country Requirements. Also, you must request clear instructions and suggestions from your importer to avoid mistakes and deficiencies in documentation.

Poor Management of Documents

It is important to understand that it is not all about filling and submitting forms. There are a number of aspects you need to take care of:

• Firstly, the information vital to prepare documents should be stored securely and easy to access in real time. You may think of using cloud technology for the same.
• Secondly, there should be a proper flow of information across different systems in company’s IT ecosystem. In other words, there should be a seamless integration between different software tools you use.
• Thirdly, you should be ready to instantly produce the documents as and when required. For example, provide transport documents in international trade without any delay to different parties like warehouses, local transporters, shipping companies and others as they demand it.
• Besides, keep the documents and information related to each shipment organized for analysis and reporting. It is an important step to take improved decisions in the future.

The export documentation process can be simpler than you think. By keeping a check on each of these points, you can accomplish the desired export business success and growth.

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As a livestock exporter, you must ful-fil some important documentation requirements that validate the commodities’ quality throughout the supply chain. If it is your first time, you must begin by knowing that:

• First, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) is the agency authorized to administer the export of live animals.
• Second, you must comply with the Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry Act 1997
• Third, you must update yourself regarding the regulations under the latest Export Control Rules 2021

Besides, you must know what documents you need to export livestock and what preparations you must make to have them. In general, you would need:

• An export permit
• A health certificate Australia, which certifies the good health of the animals intended for export
• Various transport documents in international trade. These include, for example, the bill of adding if you export via water.
• Other documents like commercial invoices and packing lists and so on.

Among these certificates, export permit and health certificate requires you to undergo a set procedure. You must apply with the DAWE in order to obtain these important trade documents. Here is a brief guide to help you:

Meet the ASEL – To begin with, you must thoroughly understand and adhere to the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (AESL). It is important that you refer to the manual’s current version and make the required arrangements accordingly.

Approved Arrangement – In simple words, an approved arrangement is an agreement between a licensed livestock exporter and the DAWE. The purpose of this agreement is to streamline the entire process of export certification. The exporter must apply with the DAWE for a new approved arrangement which outlines the operations like governance, transportation and quality assurance of the livestock.

Comply with ESCAS – The exporter must ensure that his or her business complies with the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System’s principles. Generally, these principles prescribe how to take care of animal welfare, traceability and auditing of livestock across the supply chain. In short, the system handles the complete management of livestock not just in the exporting country, but also after it reaches the importing country.

Importing Country Requirements – Obviously, it is essential for a livestock exporter to meet the importing country requirements that may differ from one country to another. For this, you can refer to the detailed Manual of Importing Country Requirements available on the DAWE website.

In addition to these, you must also declare in your application how you plan to meet some special requirements for livestock export. For instance, to export sheep by sea during the months from May to October, you must meet the requirements regarding watering systems, heat stress management, bedding and more.

Software for Livestock Export Documentation

A software can make the task of documentation for exporting livestock much easier. In fact, it is an important need if you wish to communicate with the EXDOC system of DAWE for export documentation. It can help you to:

• Apply for an export permit as well as for health certificates electronically
• Replace the tedious paperwork for various documents
• Reduce human errors, time consumption and costs
• Manage and maintain documents efficiently for reporting and analysing

The way you manage export documentation can significantly improve your profits from livestock export. Make sure you keep a watch on the changing norms and standards to do it right.

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