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Quarantine Accredited Person training

AQIS requirements | Who needs to complete the training? | Online training | University requirements |
Advise Research Compliance Officer/Waite Quarantine Manager of your Accreditation status

AQIS requirements

AQIS has introduced a new training requirement to the conditions of approval for quarantine approved premises.

Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) Quarantine Approved Premises (QAP) Conditions of Approval

SECTION D: High Priority Conditions for Management of Items Subject to Quarantine

Condition 6. Quarantine Approved Premises (QAP) Accredited Persons

This condition will apply from 28 April 2006.

A QAP Accredited Person must personally conduct or directly supervise all activities involving physical contact with or handling of items subject to quarantine at the QAP. 'Directly supervise' means that the QAP Accredited Person must be present in the area where the items subject to quarantine are being handled and must be in a position to verify for themselves that the items are being handled in accordance with AQIS's requirements.

AQIS has advised that they will be enforcing their new Conditions of Approval.

Who needs to complete the training?

Personnel who either work or supervise work with material subject to quarantine in a QAP need to complete the training.

If you work with quarantine material and you do not become a 'QAP Accredited Person' you will need to be directly supervised by someone who is accredited. AQIS has clarified 'directly supervise' as meaning physically in the proximity of the person handling the material. According to AQIS, someone in the next laboratory is not appropriate — it also means that the accredited person cannot leave the laboratory (even briefly!) while another non accredited person is handling quarantine material.

It is not necessary for an 'importer' to be a QAP Accredited Person, unless they physically will be handling material which is subject to quarantine in a QAP.

Online training

The AQIS required training is undertaken online and consists of two units. After you complete the first unit 'Quarantine Awareness', you will have access to the second unit 'Quarantine Approved Premises'.

It costs $77 per person if paid by credit card online (or $88 per person if payment is to be made on invoice).

Upon successful completion of the training, participants can print out a certificate which should be kept at their QAP(s) for audit purposes. Note that the accreditation 'moves' with the person and is valid for two years (which of course means that refresher training will be required down the track). Accredited persons should ensure they are aware of the date of expiry of their accreditation to ensure re-accreditation is undertaken.

To enrol in the online training to become a QAP Accredited Person follow the instructions at the Industry Working Group on Quarantine web site.

University requirements

Every QAP/Facility Manager/Supervisor should ensure that:

at minimum, one person in the QAP has successfully completed their QAP Accredited Person training to ensure compliance with the QAP Conditions of Approval at all times
they determine which other personnel should become accredited for research to continue effectively (ie. to handle/supervise material)
personnel register their accreditation details for the University's records using the University's online 'Notification of Quarantine Accreditation' form
All non-accredited personnel with access to items subject to quarantine are aware that material can only be handled by a QAP Accredited Person or someone under their direct supervision