OPI scheme ends
The Offshore Pre-inspection (OPI) programme for all New Zealand’s fresh fruit and vegetable exports to Australia is ceasing at the end of April 2020. The last two inspectors will be available in Auckland from 11th January to 5th April.
This programme involved inspectors from Australia’s Department of Agriculture (DOA) inspecting shipments of New Zealand fresh produce prior to export to Australia and thereby leading to streamlined clearance of compliant product on arrival in Australia.
Australia’s DOA made the decision to cease the OPI programme in 2016 and the programme has been wound down since then .
Compliance Based Intervention Scheme- CBIS
Australia’s DOA has introduced a Compliance-Based Intervention Scheme (CBIS) for consignments arriving in Australia covering various plant products.
CBIS is not a direct replacement for OPI. CBIS allows products found to have good compliance to have reduced inspections on arrival in Australia.
Compliance is based on documentation and the level of detections found during inspections for each importer.
For more information see:
MPI has been working with DOA to allow New Zealand commodities, in addition to avocados, Capsicums and Stone Fruit , to be eligible for CBIS.
For any issues related to the withdrawal of the OPI programme or the CBIS Scheme , please contact MPI’s Plant Exports team plantexports@mpi.govt.nz or contact your PMAC industry representative.
What has PMAC/MPI done
In August 2019 MPI met with Australia’s DOA to request for an extension to the OPI programme citing significant benefits to exporters of New Zealand fresh produce and to support reduced demand on arrival in Australia for quarantine inspections. This request was declined by DOA.
MPI in collaboration with the Plants Market Access Council (PMAC) have been actively working since 2016 to mitigate the impact on New Zealand’s fresh produce exports to Australia from the withdrawal of the OPI programme. This work is continuing.
The Offshore Pre-inspection (OPI) programme for all New Zealand’s fresh fruit and vegetable exports to Australia is ceasing at the end of April 2020. The last two inspectors will be available in Auckland from 11th January to 5th April.
This programme involved inspectors from Australia’s Department of Agriculture (DOA) inspecting shipments of New Zealand fresh produce prior to export to Australia and thereby leading to streamlined clearance of compliant product on arrival in Australia.
Australia’s DOA made the decision to cease the OPI programme in 2016 and the programme has been wound down since then .
Compliance Based Intervention Scheme- CBIS
Australia’s DOA has introduced a Compliance-Based Intervention Scheme (CBIS) for consignments arriving in Australia covering various plant products.
CBIS is not a direct replacement for OPI. CBIS allows products found to have good compliance to have reduced inspections on arrival in Australia.
Compliance is based on documentation and the level of detections found during inspections for each importer.
For more information see:
MPI has been working with DOA to allow New Zealand commodities, in addition to avocados, Capsicums and Stone Fruit , to be eligible for CBIS.
For any issues related to the withdrawal of the OPI programme or the CBIS Scheme , please contact MPI’s Plant Exports team plantexports@mpi.govt.nz or contact your PMAC industry representative.
What has PMAC/MPI done
In August 2019 MPI met with Australia’s DOA to request for an extension to the OPI programme citing significant benefits to exporters of New Zealand fresh produce and to support reduced demand on arrival in Australia for quarantine inspections. This request was declined by DOA.
MPI in collaboration with the Plants Market Access Council (PMAC) have been actively working since 2016 to mitigate the impact on New Zealand’s fresh produce exports to Australia from the withdrawal of the OPI programme. This work is continuing.