Why do Dept of Agriculture, Water and the Environment register establishments for Export?

The purpose of registering an establishment is to ensure that:

1. the facilities available are fit for the purpose of preparing, handling, storing and/or inspecting product for export
   
2. appropriate hygiene and the necessary measures to produce the goods according to trade description and other requirements applicable to a given commodity are maintained
   
3. the goods comply with importing country requirements.

Establishment number for an establishment exporting.

A number is allocated to an establishment upon registration. The number is unique for the purposes of identifying the establishment. If an occupier moves operations to new premises, a new number will be allocated to those premises upon registration.

Why do Aus-Meat register Establishment numbers for exporting Abattoirs and Boning Rooms?

Under the Australian Meat and Live-Stock Industry Act 1997 all Export Abattoirs and Export Boning Rooms must hold AUS-MEAT Accreditation.

Who is Aus-Meat?

AUS-MEAT Limited is an industry owned company operating as a joint venture between Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and the Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC). AUS-MEAT runs efficient, disciplined business practices operating under internationally recognised ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems

How do we identify Halal Certified providers by Establishment Numbers?

It is important to understand that circumstances change. Halal Certificates expire, are withdrawn and are sometimes cancelled. We give no undertakings or guarantees. This feature and list is provided freely as an infomational tool only. Halal Food Meat Establishment List has been completed only after our team have called and spoken with Processing Plants, Boning Rooms, Storage and Cold Room facilities throughout Australia (over 300+). We researched each Establishment Provider to identify whether they were Halal Certified or Not. When contacting each Provider we asked management at each site the following questions. 1. Are you Halal Certified? 2. Who is the Halal Authority? 3. What type of Meat do you process on site? 4. Do you have specialised Meat Types Available to market? 5. Do you supply to Domestic Market, Export Market or Both? This information is held by our team and we do not release details to public other than that informatin which is shared in our Establishment Feature. Once we received confirmation of Halal Certification we then checked with the Halal Authority the status of the Certification and where possible asked for the Halal Authority that issued to advise the expiry date or renewal of the Certificates.

Is my meat Product always Halal when EST is from a Halal Certified Provider?

NO, There are risks with everything and it is important that you inform yourself to your own satisfaction before considering a product as Halal. The Halal Status of a Final Product can be changed for the following example. A Halal Certified Processing Plant processes, cuts, packages and distributes Meat Packs to the supermarket. The Supermarket then stocks shelves with the Meat Packs for consumer to purchase. 1. Processing Plant Halal Certification may change (may have failed Audit, may have changed process, may have cancelled Halal Certification, the Authority for Halal Certification is withdrawn from the Halal Authority) 2. The Processing Plant delivers raw product to the supermarket or store and it is packed locally. The risk of contamination with other products needs to be considered. 3. The Processing Plant delivers raw product to the supermarket or store and it is prepared and has other products (marinates) added to it before being packed. The additional ingredients added to the product may not be Halal Suitable and as such a risk. 4. The Supermarket or Store or Employees may be responsible for contamination of products with other food products, consumer interaction, contact with Haram products. We strongly recommend to reduce the risks of contamination that Halal Consumers only purchase products that they are satisfied as Halal Suitable.

• The Halal Consumer should purchase only those products that are Sealed Packaged and Clearly labelled with Halal Logo
  
• Where a Halal Logo is not present then ask the Supermarket or Store Manager or Butcher Section Manager to view the Product Box that the goods were delivered in. Often these boxes will contain the EST and Halal Status.
  
• Where possible only purchase those products that are vacumn sealed from the Processing Plant direct to shelf.

How can I confirm the Halal Status?

We would recommend that should you want to confirm Halal Certification of an Establishment Number that you call the issuing Halal Authority direct. Requesting for confirmation that the Establishment Number is Halal Certified. Contacting Processing Plants and Providers often results in being referred back to the Halal Authority for confirmation.

What help is provided by Halal Authorities?

This feature is provided independently from Halal Authorities. Within the current Australian Market there is no centralised Authority or Body but rather a dynamic and diverse group of organisations representing local, regional,state and federal Halal Requirements. With little transparency to the market There are a number of Halal Authorities within Australia and Regional Halal Authorities. Some Authorities operate as a Commercial business whilst others operate as Cultural Leaders in the Australian Markets. These authorities are conscious of the need to provide strong Data and Privacy rules around the way that they conduct business with Processing Plant Operators and within Industries. As a result rarely engaging openly in discussions or disclosing information about providing lists to help mainstream Halal Consumers.

What is an Establishment Number?

Establishment Numbers are issued to a premise that produces edible and /or inedible prescribed goods for export. The Establishment Number identifies this Premise as the originating supplier to consumers and overseas Authorities responsible for managing Supply of Meat products. Prescribed goods for export must be prepared, stored, handled and/or presented for inspection at a registered establishment under the following legislation: Export Control Act 1982 Export Control (Meat & Meat Products) Orders 2005 Export Control (Prescribed Goods - General) Orders 2005 Export Control (Hay and Straw) Orders 2005 Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Orders 2005 Export Control (Plants and Plant Products) Orders 2005 Export Control (Eggs and Egg Products) Orders 2005 Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Orders 2005 Export Control (Wild Game Meat and Wild Game Meat Products) Orders 2010 Export Control (Poultry Meat and Poultry Meat Products) Orders 2010 Export Control (Rabbit and Ratite Meat) Orders 1985 Export Control (Fees) Orders 2001

Who issues Establishment Numbers in Australia?

Establishment Numbers are managed by Deptartment of Agriculture,Water and the Environment and Aus-Meat. Deptartment of Agriculture,Water and the Environment Aus-Meat

How can you Register for an Establishment Number?

Establishments must be registered by the department’s Secretary before commencing an operation for the production, storage, handling and/or presentation of prescribed goods for export. Only the Secretary has the authority to register or renew registration of an establishment. Establishments seeking to become registered to prepare prescribed goods for export from Australia must apply for registration using the official approved EX26 form, titled 'Application for Registration or Notification to the Secretary of Change of Details of an Establishment'. The Secretary is obliged to register an establishment for export where the requirements for registration are met. However the registration of the establishment may be subject to conditions specified by the Secretary consistent with the objectives of the legislation. The registration of an establishment may be varied at the request of the occupier or the Secretary. The registration of an establishment is based upon three elements:

1. 'fit and proper person' - the persons nominated as in management and control of the establishment are assessed as 'fit & proper persons' in accordance with the Export Control Act 1982
   
2. outstanding debt - any debts owed to the Commonwealth in connection with the establishment are paid
   
3. technical compliance - the establishment having an Approved Arrangement. The establishment must meet the technical requirements relevant to the commodity the Approved Arrangement will cover. The Instrument of Approval of the arrangement must accompany the application for registration.

Is it a requirement for Domestic only providers to register for an Establishment Number?

Dept Agriculture, Water and the Environemnt along with AUS-MEAT Accreditation is optional for Domestic registered Abattoirs and Boning Rooms.

Where do I locate the Establishment Number on a Meat Product?

When viewing a label on a product you will see information relating to the Expiry Dates, Pricing, Bar Codes, SKU Codes and other key information. Located within this information you will often be able to identify the Establishment Number (EST). Look carefully for EST. The numbers that follow indicate which Company or Processing Plant was responsible for the distribution, packaging, production of the meat product.

What information is provided in search results?

Our database contains a lot of information, some of this information is specific to the Company that owns the processing plant, some information is about the Processing Plant, some is about the Halal Authority. When conducting a search result we have at this stage chosen to only release information to assist the Halal Consumer. This includes The Establishment Number The Type of Meats Processed at that Establishment The Halal Status (Halal Certified only) The Halal Authority that issued the Certificate We may at a later date make variations to provide as little or as much information available as possible but discussions by the team have taken place and we feel it is important to ensure that Privacy and Data policies are followed without putting the Providers at risk. This is a free feature made available to support Halal Consumers who are struggling to identify access to suitable Halal Meat locally. It is meant to be used as a tool to assist in identifying if a product on a shelf comes from a Halal Certified source. It gives no representation that the final product is Halal as we have no control over distribution or supermarket procedures when stocking product.

An Establishment Number I entered in does not appear?

If an Establishment number you have entered does not appear in the results there are some reasons for it. 1. The results will ONLY show those Establishments that we have contacted and either confirmed as Halal Certified or Non Halal. If we are waiting for confirmation of details then a note will appear in the Moderator Comment field. Until it is labelled as Halal or Non Halal we encourage people to take caution when considering purchasing or not. 2. The Establishment Number submitted is not correct. This happens it may be a barcode or Licence Number or Product Code that has been entered instead. 3. The Establishment Number submitted is not known by our team. Each week we will review the top 10 EST numbers not recognised and contact State Authorities or Peak Bodies (Like Aus Meat) to identify the EST. We will continue to monitor and once we know who the EST is tied to we will then engage with them and ask suitable questions then updating our system. As a general rule once an unknown EST is identified we will place a note to inform people of the status. 4. The Establishment Number submitted may be entered incorrectly. It happens...it may be a Zero or it may be an "Oh", or maybe you missed a number or maybe you even added an extra number. Try again. We make every effort to ensure that the information we provide is accurate but advise that we accept no liability as this is a free service.

How can I help?

We are always open to offers of help. People can assist in a number of ways. You can assist with the maintaining of the information in this Feature by adding new EST items seen at supermarkets. Take a picture and upload it to us with any other information. Our team will then cross check with our listings and make enquiries to identify details. You can assist with updates Any other enquiries can be made on our contact us page.

Who pays for this service?

This feature and service is free. Provided to support those needing access to information to assist with identifying suitable Halal Products in Australia. We are an independent company that is committed to providing access to a range of exciting features and services.