Market access for horticulture products to international markets is gained through negotiation between the Australian Government and the governments of our trading partners. Hort Innovation’s role in these negotiations is via the administration of an independent panel that acts on behalf of the horticultural sector to provide transparent, unbiased and consistent market access advice to the Australian Government; the International Market Access Assessment Panel.
This page outlines the role and function of the panel, outlines the process Industries must follow and provides a portal for industries to make market access applications.
If you would like more information or if you are thinking of making an application, we encourage you to contact Mila Bristow, General Manager Trade and Biosecurity R&D by email. Engagement between your industry and Hort Innovation ensures your industry will be in the best position to make a successful application to the panel.
Stakeholder roles
| Stakeholder | Submission of an application to IMAAP |
Post-submission (If the application is successfully endorsed) |
| Industry applicant |
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| Hort Innovation |
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| IMAAP panel |
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| DAFF |
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Next IMAAP meeeting
The next IMAAP meeting will be held on Monday, November 3, 2025.
There will be at least two meetings in 2026, which will be held in April and October. Additional IMAAP meetings can be scheduled as required, at industry or DAFF’s request.
Submissions
Submissions for the November meeting will close at 12pm on Monday, October 6, 2025. Early submissions are welcome.
Eligibility criteria
Requests can originate from businesses, industry bodies of state and territory government departments and all applications must meet the following criteria:
- The Australian Government is the appropriate body to address the requests based on a detailed business plan
- Is prioritised in an industry export strategy (for new market access)
- Data that satisfies phytosanitary or other technical requirements has been developed and is available (if relevant)
- Is supported by and is inclusive of the broader national industry
- The industry is export-ready, and this has been clearly evidenced in an accompanying detailed business plan.
Hort Innovation will undergo a preliminary assessment of your application to ensure that it fulfils the eligibility criteria. More information on the eligibility criteria and process can be found in the information handbook.
Market Assessment Panel
| Name | Industry role |
| Justin Shield (Panellist) | WA Farm Direct |
| Wayne Prowse (Panellist) | Turracroft |
| Jeff Scott (Panellist) | Australian Table Grape Association |
| Becky Houston (Panellist) | Department of Primary Industries and Regions, Government of South Australia |
Documents
International Market Access Panel: Handbook (PDF)
New market access template (Word document)
Improved market access template (Word document)
Information and enquiries
For more information or enquiries about IMAAP, contact Mimi Doan, Acting Head of Trade and Market Access by email or Mila Bristow, General Manager Trade and Biosecurity R&D by email.