• What is Horticultural Market Access?
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Market access covers new or improved entry for horticulture products (fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, cut-flowers and nursery production) into markets where terms and conditions of access need to be negotiated on an inter-governmental basis with those authorities responsible for the control of import, health and safety regimes.

This broad definition of market access covers phytosanitary (quarantine), sanitary (contaminants eg pesticides) and non-quarantine (eg exclusion, duties, quotas, tariffs, licences) requirements which need to be addressed through the established channels for authorising or improving access.

Horticultural Market Access Committee (HMAC)

HMAC is a committee which holds responsibilities on behalf of the Australian horticultural industry to consider, prioritise, promote and communicate all market access issues which are of industry significance. The committee undertakes these responsibilities under arrangements and in consultation with industry associations and their members, government agencies, the research community and others who are involved and instrumental in achieving market access outcomes.

HMAC generally responds to enquires on market access in the following manner:

• For new market access (quarantine) requests, HMAC requests completion of a Market Access Proposal (MAP) by the applicant for HMAC's review. Following HMAC's approval the application is passed to Plant Biosecurity (PB), a division of Biosecurity Australia (BA) within the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), to progress negotiations with the target market authorities.
  
  
• For current market access (existing market maintenance and improved market access) quarantine related issues, HMAC generally refers enquiries to the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service(AQIS) within DAFF or to the Horticulture Exports Consultative Committee (HECC) which is a forum by which AQIS consults with industry on market access maintenance and improvement issues.
  
  
• For market access issues which relate to tariff, quota or other non-quarantine import barriers, HMAC generally refers the issue to the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) which holds responsibilities in this area, for consideration and response.
  
  
• For market access issues relating to chemical residues, food safety and health standards, HMAC liaises with the appropriate authority for consideration and response.
  
  
• For issues related to market access for imports of horticultural produce into Australia, including Import Risk Analyses undertaken by BA, HMAC generally liaises with BA, DAFF and the industries concerned.
  
  

Resources

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