Micor

Micor, or the Manual of Importing Country Requirements, is a specialist online resource provided by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Based in Canberra, ACT, Micor functions as a comprehensive knowledge base for Australian food exporters, detailing the specific requirements set by overseas trading partners for the import of agricultural commodities. Unlike a traditional food importer, Micor plays a critical role on the export side, ensuring that Australian meat, dairy, plants, fish, live animals, eggs, non-prescribed goods, and organic products meet the stringent standards of their international destinations.

Operating from its office at 18 Marcus Clarke Street, Micor supports the nation's agricultural trade by centralising and regularly updating the known conditions that exporters must adhere to. The platform is an essential tool for businesses looking to navigate the complex landscape of global food export regulations, helping to reduce the risk of shipment rejections and delays at foreign borders.

Export Requirements and Commodity Coverage from Micor

The core service of Micor is to set out the requirements that Australian exporters and the Department must meet for products to be accepted for import into specific overseas countries. This service is vital for maintaining the country's reputation as a reliable and compliant exporter. Exporters are also reminded that they must comply with the Export Control Act and associated Rules.

The platform categorises its detailed information by commodity type, making it easy for users to find relevant data. The covered commodities include a wide range of Australia's key agricultural outputs.

• Meat: Covers fresh meat, processed meat, and animal by-products including skins, hides, pet food, rendered products, and technical products.
• Dairy: Includes milk, milk powder products, butter, cream, cheese, and other processed dairy products.
• Plants: Features fruit, vegetables, nursery stock, cut flowers and foliage, seeds, grains, stockfeed, and timber.
• Fish: Encompasses finfish, other seafood like bivalves, crustaceans, echinoderms, gastropods, cephalopods, tunicates, and crocodile meat.
• Live Animals: Includes livestock, companion animals, horses, zoo animals, birds, hatching eggs, fish, bees, other invertebrates, and reproductive material.
• Eggs: Covers shell eggs and egg products.
• Non-prescribed goods: Includes honey and bee by-products, and processed foods.
• Organics: Covers organics equivalence arrangements.

Understanding Micor's Role in Australian Agricultural Trade

Micor serves as the authoritative manual for exporters, providing a single point of reference for the complex and ever-changing import requirements of different nations. By aggregating this information, the Department reduces the administrative burden on individual businesses and helps standardise compliance across the industry. This function is particularly important for small and medium-sized enterprises that may lack the resources to independently research and verify the regulations of multiple countries.

The platform’s information is derived from official communications with trading partners and is intended for general information. As stated on the site, the Commonwealth makes no representations or warranties regarding the database and does not accept liability for reliance on the information. Exporters are strongly advised to independently verify the data, as requirements can change without notice. This transparency underscores Micor's role as a guide rather than a guarantor.

Locating Micor in Canberra

Micor is situated at 18 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra ACT 2601, placing it in the heart of Australia’s capital city government and business district. The office is located near the Australian National University and within walking distance of Lake Burley Griffin, a central landmark in Canberra's civic landscape. This location is significant as it aligns the resource with the country’s primary agricultural policy and regulatory bodies, facilitating close collaboration between the department and the export industry.

While the primary interface for Micor is digital, the physical address provides a formal point of establishment for the Department's operations. Individuals and businesses can reach the office by phone at +61 2 6272 3933 for inquiries related to the export requirements database.

Common Questions

What is Micor?

Micor is the 'Manual of Importing Country Requirements,' an online resource from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry that provides Australian exporters with the known requirements set by overseas countries for importing agricultural products.

What types of products does Micor cover?

Micor provides export requirement information for a wide range of commodities including meat, dairy, plants, fish, live animals, eggs, non-prescribed goods (such as honey), and organics.

Can I use Micor to import food into Australia?

No. Micor is specifically designed for Australian exporters to find requirements for sending goods to other countries. It does not provide information on importing goods into Australia.

Is the information on Micor legally binding?

No. The information on Micor is provided for general purposes. The Department states that it does not guarantee the accuracy of the database and that users should independently verify the information with the importing country or their client before relying on it.

How can I contact the Micor team for help?

You can contact the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry by calling their office at +61 2 6272 3933. For website-specific issues, there is a 'Suggest a fix' feature available on the Micor website.

What should I do if I find inaccurate information on the Micor site?

The Micor website has a dedicated 'Suggest a fix to MICOR content' page where users can report errors or outdated information to be reviewed and updated by the department.