Aao Training

Introduction to the

Plant Export Operations Branch

AQIS Authorised Officer Training Program

Acknowledgements:

This training program was developed by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)

Important Note:

Every effort is made to ensure currency of these modules.

If you identify a need for a module update, please refer any changes to the Learning and Development manager in Canberra, who can be contacted through your Regional Learning and Development manager. All other enquiries can be directed to the email inbox [email protected].

© Commonwealth of Australia [2011]

This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth available from the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Intellectual Property Branch, Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, GPO Box 2154, Canberra ACT 2601 or at http://www.dcita.gov.au/cca

http://www.dcita.gov.au/cca

Contents

1. This Module .................................................................................................. 2

1.1 Purpose ............................................................................................. 2

1.2 What this Module will cover ............................................................... 2

1.3 Learning Outcomes ........................................................................... 2

1.4 Assessment Method .......................................................................... 2

2. Introduction .................................................................................................. 3

3. About AQIS ................................................................................................... 3

3.1 Department Structure ........................................................................ 4

3.2 Overview of the Plant Export Operations Branch .............................. 4

3.2.1 Registration of establishments ........................................................... 5

3.2.2 Export Compliant Goods ................................................................... 5

3.2.3 Prescribed grains/goods .................................................................... 5

3.2.4 Containers, vessels and packaging ................................................... 6

3.2.5 Export permits, phytosanitary certificates and other certificates ......... 6

4. The Training Program .................................................................................. 6

4.1 Completion of Modules and Job Cards ............................................. 7

4.2 Modules within the Training Program ................................................ 7

4.3 Job function and training alignment ................................................... 8

4.4 Plant Export Operations Manual ........................................................ 8

5. Maintaining AAO Status .............................................................................. 8

5.1 Refresher training .............................................................................. 8

5.2 Verification of your performance ........................................................ 8

5.3 Verification of fit and proper person requirement ............................... 9

Attachment 1. Job function and training alignment. ......................................... 10

Plant Export AQIS Authorised Officer Training Program

Commonwealth of Australia

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1. This Module

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of this module is to provide participants with an overview of both the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) Export Plant Operations Branch and the AQIS authorised officer (AAO) training program. AQIS is committed to providing quality training for all AAOs to enable participants to efficiently and effectively undertake their work. The Plant Export Operations Branch has developed this training program in consultation with the horticulture, grain and seed industry. It aims to provide all AAOs with nationally consistent quality training by:

providing a consistent and reliable set of components for training

recognising and assessing people’s skills

encouraging the development and delivery of flexible training which suits individual, AQIS and industry requirements, and

encouraging learning and assessment in a work related environment.

1.2 What this Module will cover

This module will:

provide an overview of the structure of AQIS and the role of the Plant Export Operations Branch,

provide an introduction to the Plant Export AQIS Authorised Officer (AAO) Training Program and its purpose, and

detail the specific courses and modules included within this training program.

1.3 Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module participants will be able to:

identify the Plant Division within the AQIS structure

identify the role of the Plant Exports Operation Branch

identify the purpose of an AQIS authorised officer

identify the courses within the Program that must be completed

identify the modules required to be completed for specific plant courses and commodities.

1.4 Assessment Method

While there is no assessment included as part of this Module, all subsequent eLearning training modules will include both learning activities and a quick quiz.

On completion of each module and the associated learning activities, you must successfully complete the assessment that contributes to the overall completion of training.

The assessment is in the form of a Quick Quiz, with all questions requiring a correct answer for you to be deemed competent in that module. There is no limit to the number of times that the quiz questions can be attempted. Questions that have been answered incorrectly must be re-attempted until the question is answered correctly.



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You will also have the option of undertaking on the job training with an AQIS officer at your establishment while normal AQIS inspection activities are undertaken. In addition, you will be required to demonstrate your competency by completing a job card in consultation with AQIS staff.

2. Introduction

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) is part of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). AQIS administers export legislation to ensure that exported products meet all Australian and importing country requirements. This maintains the integrity of exported products and Australia’s reputation as a reliable exporter. Australia exports a diverse range of plants and plant products to many importing countries. These include:

fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, dried fruit, plants, cut flowers, nuts, timber, seeds or grains of barley, canola, chickpeas, dried field peas, faba beans, lentils, lupins, oats, sorghum, soy beans, mung beans, whole vetch and wheat.

AQIS’s role in providing a high standard of export inspection and certification services ensures Australia maintains positive relationships with importing countries. Before these goods are exported, they must be inspected and passed by an AQIS Authorised Officer (AAO). An AAO is an Australian Government official who is appointed under Australia’s export legislation and is accredited to carry out export functions such as sampling and inspection. By providing various services for a range of agricultural products exported from Australia, AAOs play an important role in the following:

protection of human, animal and plant health

protection and enhancement of Australia’s trading reputation

a fair and consistent competitive market

adherence to the trading partners’ import requirements, and

gaining access to new markets.

3. About AQIS

AQIS is a regulatory body that verifies, authorises and certifies documentation presented by exporters to ensure compliance with the Export Control Act 1982, subordinate legislation and importing country requirements. For export of plants and plant products, Australia has obligations under the international Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).

The Australian Government, as a signatory to the IPPC, strongly supports international cooperation in controlling pests of plants and plant products through science based quarantine measures that will prevent their unintended spread to other countries through imported products.

The AQIS Plant Export Operations Branch deals with goods including a diverse range of horticultural commodities, bulk grain in ships holds and containers through to providing inspection and certification for hay, the inspection of timber, logs, wood chip, bark, seeds for sowing and small seed lots for research. AQIS, through the activities of the Plant Export Operations Branch, provides independent export inspection and certification services for the export of plants and plant products from Australia.



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3.1 Department Structure

An illustration of how the Plant Export Operations Branch fits into the Department structure is given below.

3.2 Overview of the Plant Export Operations Branch

The Plant Export Operations Branch inspects plants and plant products to ensure that product exported from Australia is free of plant pests and diseases of concern to importing countries and meets domestic export legislative requirements.

Regulation of the export of plants and plant products originated following dissatisfaction with Australia’s export performance in the 1950’s and gave rise to export legislation. AQIS regulates the export of prescribed goods on behalf of industry. The legislation seeks to;

protect honest traders from disreputable competitors

protect public health, and

enhance Australia’s trading reputation.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries

and Forestry

Australian Quarantine and

Inspection Service

Plant Division

Plant Export Operations Branch



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As an AAO you will become familiar with the requirements of Australia’s key export legislation, namely the;

Export Control Act 1982

Export Control (Prescribed Goods – General) Orders 2005, and

Export Control (Plants and Plant Products) Order 2011.

Through the Act and its subordinate legislation, the following key components of the export process are summarised below and form the basis of the training program that you are about to commence:

registration of establishments

export compliant goods

prescribed grains/goods

packages, containers and vessels, and

export permits, phytosanitary certificates and other certificates.

3.2.1 Registration of establishments

Establishments where goods are prepared for export must be registered by AQIS. The storage, treatment, loading, handling or inspection of prescribed grain must be done within registered establishments. Conditions of registration include requirements relating to;

cleanliness of the establishment

pest control strategies

freedom from contamination, and

comprehensive record keeping.

3.2.2 Export Compliant Goods

For goods to be deemed export compliant they must be found to be free from pests, free from contaminants, and in a condition that allows any required phytosanitary or other certificate to be issued. Unless otherwise specified by DAFF, goods are considered to be free from pests and contaminants if they do not contain live pest infestations, vermin, including rodents and their waste and pests or contaminants above levels specified by the relevant importing country.

3.2.3 Prescribed grains/goods

The export of prescribed goods cover prescribed grains (see list below), fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, hay and straw and any other plants and plant products where a phytosanitary certificate or other official certificate is required by an importing country. These goods must carry appropriate and accurate trade descriptions. Any trade descriptions applied to the goods, must accurately described the goods and contain any specific information the importing country authority requires. The following grains are specifically prescribed under legislation;

barley

canola

chickpeas

dried field peas

faba beans

lentils

lupins

mung beans



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oats

sorghum

soybeans

split vetch

wheat

whole vetch

3.2.4 Containers, vessels and packaging

Under legislation, container means a shipping container or any other unit of cargo handling equipment designed to protect goods being exported. Containers can only be loaded with prescribed goods once an AAO has inspected the container and it was found to be free from contamination, pests or any source of contamination. If the container is not being loaded immediately after inspection a seal must be applied to the container. Before a vessel can be used for transporting goods in bulk, both a marine surveyor and an authorised officer must inspect it. The marine surveyor must be satisfied that the area for carrying the goods is suitable and that the goods will not become contaminated, wet or odorised. The AAO must be satisfied that the hold and any other cargo on the vessel are free from any source of contamination or pests.

Goods can only be packed in packaging for export after they have been passed as export compliant. The packaging material must be able to protect the goods from damage, pests or contaminants. The packaging must be unused, or suitably cleaned if it is being reused.

3.2.5 Export permits, phytosanitary certificates and other certificates

Prescribed goods require an export permit to enable their export from Australia. An export permit can be issued once an AAO is satisfied that all the conditions in legislation are met. If a phytosanitary or other certificate is required by an importing country, it is the

responsibility of the exporter of the goods to request it from AQIS.

The exporter must provide an AAO with the details of what the importer requires to be

certified on the certificate, as well as any supporting information, such as certificates of

analysis or treatment for the goods.

4. The Training Program

Training commences with eLearning modules that introduce the core concepts of export certification. All AAO’s must complete the required eLearning modules as outlined by AQIS, refer to 4.2 for information on job function and training alignment. The Plant Export Operations Manual is available to all AAO’s to provide additional detail where required, refer to 4.3 for more information on the Plant Export Operations Manual.

On completion of each module and the associated learning activities, AAO’s must successfully complete the assessment that contributes to the overall completion of training. The assessment is in the form of a Quick Quiz, with all questions requiring a correct answer to be deemed competent in that module. There is no limit to the number of times that the quiz questions can be attempted. Questions that have been answered



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incorrectly must be re-attempted until the question is answered correctly. Any incorrect responses will suggest to you that further revision of the eLearning module and or the manual is required to successfully reattempt those questions. AAO’s may then transition into an on-the-job experience gained through working directly with AQIS when carrying out inspections. These inspections can occur at an export registered establishment where the prospective AAO is employed or at other registered establishments with facilities and export goods to enable the AAO to be assessed against the proposed job function. For example, if the AAO’s prospective job function was related to hay exports, then the AAO will be responsible for organising a hay export registered establishment where the AAO will be assessed.. During this stage the applicant develops the practical skills and knowledge to carry out inspections through observation and direct instruction by AQIS. For more detailed training and guidance, the applicant refers to the Plant Export Operations Manual. At some point, the AAO applicant and AQIS agree that the applicant has developed a sound understanding of the principles and practices associated with export inspections and certification. At this point the AAO undertakes competency assessment.

4.1 Completion of Modules and Job Cards

When you have completed the training modules you will be ready to transition into on-the-job experience to further develop your skills and knowledge.

The purpose of the job cards are to provide an on-the-job training and assessment tool for skills and applied knowledge required for AAOs to perform Plant Export inspections. It will be your responsibility to ensure all of the tasks/activities on these job cards are completed within the specified time frame by appropriately reminding your AQIS trainer of any outstanding tasks to be dealt with. You will be required to sign and date when each task/activity was demonstrated and explained to you for the first time. Once you have been able to practice and demonstrate all tasks to a level of competency described in the Job Card Assessment Criteria and Performance Standards, you are required to date and sign the appropriate section on the last page of the job card in preparation for your final assessment. At the end of the completed training, you will be required to demonstrate your competency by completing the job card in consultation with AQIS staff.

4.2 Modules within the Training Program

The entire AQIS Plant Export Training consists of 30 modules, of which 9 are a mandatory component of the training program (course 1). All participants must complete course one, which consists of the core modules, irrespective of the job function to be performed. AAO’s are also required to complete the commodity specific modules that are relevant to the job function that is to be performed; this may include one commodity specific course



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or any combination of the commodity specific courses. An AAO will be required to complete all modules within the course that they are enrolled in. The job function and training courses are outlined in attachment 1. This table clearly identifies individual courses that are grouped according to the applicable job function.

4.3 Job function and training alignment

The AAO training framework has been designed around the common inspection and sampling job functions that an AAO may perform. These job functions are included in the AAO application form and have been broken down into key training components that an AAO will need to demonstrate competence in to enable them to perform these functions. Refer to Attachment 1 for a list of job functions and aligned training requirements that form the basis of the AAO training framework.

4.4 Plant Export Operations Manual

The Plant Export Operations Branch has developed a detailed reference, the Plant Export Operations Manual (PEOM). This manual documents in detail current export policy and procedures and aims to provide both new and experienced AAOs and industry a resource that clearly outlines the requirements for exporting plants and plant products from Australia. This manual provides detailed text supporting the introductory concepts presented to learners within the eLearning modules. The intent of the manual is to provide readers, particularly AAOs, with comprehensive information covering policy, principles and work instructions to efficiently and effectively enable an AAO to perform their duties. The manual is an essential component of the AAO training framework but also an invaluable tool for all interested persons seeking detailed knowledge of plant export policies and procedures. The volumes of the manual closely align with the plant export eLearning modules to facilitate quick and easy referencing by readers. Where required, readers will also be able to access succinct instructions for particular job functions.

5. Maintaining AAO Status

5.1 Refresher training

Your performance will continue to be subject to verification by AQIS. You will be notified if you require refresher training in the following instances:

as a result of verification of your performance

if work instructions change, or

if your job functions change.

5.2 Verification of your performance

AQIS will audit and verify your performance as an AAO against objective performance standards with your records being retained by AQIS. Your performance could be checked against the following (but may not be limited to):



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The number of critical, major or minor non-conformities for a registered establishment or AAO

The average rejection rate per commodity grouped by establishment, AAO or an exporter

The average inspection time per commodity per sampling method grouped by quantity, destination country, AAO, establishment or an exporter

The average rate of rejection at the point of import due to matters covered by the export certification process.

The data for measuring your performance will be gathered from registered establishment hygiene records, waste disposal records, commodity inspection records and AQIS audits. These records may be audited by AQIS. The frequency of audits will depend on the level of risk assigned to the task(s) you are performing as an AAO.

5.3 Verification of fit and proper person requirement

To keep your status as a ‘fit and proper person’ you must continue to:

be an Australian citizen

be at least 18 years of age

meet the fit and proper person requirements

pass a Federal police check

have no unresolved conflict of interest or likely conflicts of interest

complete any plant export training courses required by AQIS and be deemed competent

maintain your accreditation(s) for performing your duties as an AAO, and

perform your duties in a manner satisfactory to AQIS as confirmed by audits and verification.

Any change in your circumstances relevant to this requirement, such as being convicted of a criminal offence, would need to be reported immediately to AQIS. Your current AAO status will then be reviewed by AQIS.



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Attachment 1. Job function and training alignment.

Plant Export AAO Job function Plant Export Training Courses Basic Inspection of Fresh Fruit & Vegetable (FFV)

Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3) Horticulture (Course 7)

Basic Inspection of FFV + Additional Declarations & Mandatory Treatments


Inspection of Protocol Fresh fruit and vegetables


Inspection of Dried Fruits Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3) Horticulture (Course 7)

Inspection of Nursery Stock & Cut Flowers Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3) Horticulture (Course 7)

Inspections - New Zealand Bilateral Quarantine Agreement


Supervision of Vapour Heat Treatment of Mangoes

Core modules (Course 1)

Application of Onshore Treatment of Horticulture commodities


Inspection of Prescribed grain - bulk containerised

Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3) Grain (Course 6) Prescribed grain and prescribed goods (course 10)

Inspection of Prescribed grain - bulk ship holds Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3) Grain (Course 6) Grain – Prescribed grain and prescribed goods (Course 10)

Inspection of Prescribed grain – bagged Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3) Grain (Course 6) Grain – Prescribed grain and prescribed goods (Course 10)

Inspection of empty ship holds Core modules (Course 1), Ship Inspection (Course 4)

Inspection of Timber - ship holds Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3) Grain – Forest products (Course 13)

Inspection of Timber - containerised Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3) Grain – Forest products (Course 13)

Inspection of Hay and straw Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3) Grain (Course 6) Grain – Hay & Straw (Course 11)



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Grain sampling (bulk, bagged, containerised) Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3) Grain (Course 6) Grain – Prescribed grain and prescribed goods (Course 10)

Inspection of Raw baled cotton Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3) Grain (Course 6) Grain – Raw Baled Cotton (course 12)

Inspection of processed goods Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3) Grain (Course 6) Grain – prescribed grain and prescribed goods (Course 10)

Inspection of container system units Core modules (Course 1) Empty container inspections (Course 2)

Inspection of Seed for sowing Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3) Grain (Course 6)

Inspection of Woodchips - bulk in ship holds Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3) Grain – Forest products (Course 13)

Inspection of Woodchips - bulk in containers Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3) Grain – Forest products (Course 13)

Inspection of Nuts - bagged and containerised Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3) Grain (Course 6) Grain – prescribed grain and prescribed goods (Course 10)

Registration of establishments (AQIS only) Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3)

Suspension of registered establishments (AQIS only)

Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3)

Cancellation of registered establishments (AQIS only)

Core modules (Course 1) Grain & Horticulture (Course 3)

Auditing (AQIS only) Auditing (Course 5) Finance –fees and charges (AQIS only) Documentation (Course 8) Documentation – electronic (AQIS only) Documentation (Course 8)

Documents

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