Australia has yet to issue memo declaring Cebu pest-free port

Cebu exporters are still having difficulties shipping their products to Australia as the Australian Quarantine Inspection and Service (AQIS) has not yet issued its final draft officially declaring Cebu as pest-free port.

Despite the enthusiasm and optimism voiced by some big shipping conglomerates, Philexport-Cebu clarified the issue with AQIS recently on the real situation of direct port calls from Cebu to Australia.

AQIS informed Philexport-Cebu via email that the formal issuance of the final draft of the AQIS GAS (Giant African Snail) risk Countries' Action List may still come out in the later part of February this year.

"As far as I know, Cebu is not able to ship directly to Australia until revised country list is posted on ICON [Import Conditions Database]" AQIS official informed Philexport-Cebu via email.

Cebu-based exporters have been transshipping their goods through the port of Manila since the ban was imposed on Cebu in 2003, incurring additional costs and extended delivery lead times.

Philexport Cebu and the Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (SIAP), the two prime movers in the "Pest-free Cebu Export Task Force" have lobbied hard for the de-listing of the Port of Cebu from the AQIS' GAS-risk areas.

According to Philexport-Cebu, Cebu has been de-listed as a risk area in AQIS' new list but this has yet to be finalized after countries in the list have been given ample time to protest and ask for reconsideration.

"This new information means that it is still risky, despite assurances from shipping companies, to ship directly from Cebu to Australia as exporters face huge delays while shipping companies risk paying huge fines if they cannot pass the AQIS inspection standards," Philexport-Cebu said in a statement.

In August of last year, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Tony Hely confirmed that Cebu is no longer included in AQIS GAS-risk country list.

Based on the AQIS website, the new draft of GAS-risk country listing does not include Cebu or the Philippines anymore.

Just before the end of 2005, P&O Nedlloyd agents in Cebu informed Philexport Cebu that they are resuming direct port calls from Cebu to Australia, after their own principals in Australia, gave them the go signal to accept Cebu-Australia shipments.

Although the operational policy area group of AQIS has yet to respond to Philexport's query via email, an AQIS official formerly involved in the GAS issue hinted that the final list will not be formally issued before the end of February this year.

"It is therefore imperative on our part to inform Cebu exporters, that to avoid delays of their Australia-bound shipments due to AQIS' inspections, it is better instead to maintain the status quo [transshipments to Manila] and to wait for a few more weeks for the formal issuance of the AQIS GAS-risk Country List," Philexport said.

AQIS is an agency within the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Australia.