Trade & Market Access Initiatives

The Trade & Market Access Initiatives page details Grain Trade Australia's role in advocating for Australian grain trade. It covers policies, biosecurity, food safety, plant breeding, and the International Grain Trade Coalition (IGTC). The page provides insights into how GTA supports market access and trade compliance.

GTA Trade & Market Access Overview

Trade & Market Access is a core activity of GTA, as is highlighted in the current GTA Strategic Directions Document and GTA Annual Report. The Trade & Market Access strategy revolves around four pillars – Policy, Advocacy, Support and Communication.

GTA undertakes a number of activities to support the marketing both domestically and for export of Australian grain. These activities are targeted to advance independent, fact-based dialogue and advocacy for members and industry. These efforts support Federal and State Government efforts to ensure that trade is not impacted by technical barriers that may arise in forums such as the World Trade Organisation/Food and Agriculture Organisation, International Plant Protection Convention and Codex Alimentarius Commission etc or via Australian Commonwealth, State or Territory based legislative actions.

GTA makes submissions to Governments on issues and policies (including trade and market access), impacting industry and GTA members. GTA Trade & Market Access initiatives will be driven by the GTA Board and Trade & Market Access Technical Committee.

GTA Market Notifications

GTA Market Notifications to industry on Trade & Market Access issues

Quarantine & Biosecurity

The Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment has primary responsibilty for managing Australia’s biosecurity system. This includes all phytosanitary requirements in the export of grain and grain products. The Department website provides all of the information and resources required, including the current Biosecurity Act 2018. Direct links to key tools are also provided in Government Resources page here. Includes Domestic and Export Quarantine requirements, information on the Grain & Plant Product Export Consultative Committee (GPPEICC).

Food Safety

Ensuring the safety of grain and grain products to domestic and international markets and customers is imperative for the Australian grain industry. Diligence and adherence to guidelines and regulations is required along the full supply chain. GTA works in collaboration with a range of Government Departments and industry groups and programs and provides submissions to review processes on behalf of our members as appropriate.

Plant Breeding Innovation

GTA has a Plant Breeding Innovation Committee (PBIC) comprising of members and industry experts with specific interests and specialist knowledge on Plant Breeding innovations.

International GrainTrade Coalition (IGTC)

The IGTC is a coalition of 22 national and international non-profit trade associations and councils involving more than 800 members. Its purpose is to convene significant expertise and representation to provide advice to governments from a global perspective, on the commercial requirements and economics of the world’s food, feed and processing industries. GTA is an active member of the IGTC, providing Australian grain industry representation on all major project and policy areas with the potential to impact our industry and members.

Grain Export Resources

Sustainability & Traceability & Electronic Documentation

GTA has developed a Sustainability Policy and participates in industry wide forums focussing on grains industry sustainability.
The Australian Grain Industry Code of Practice states that participants in the supply chain should have procedures in place to trace grain one step forward and onestep back in the grain supply chain.