JUST six days remain until phase one of one of the biggest reforms in the live export industry needs to be complete.
Bahrain, Turkey, Kuwait and Qatar are all part of the Export Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) which needs to be put into place by Wednesday night.
Just 167 days after the Bill Farmer Review into live exports was released the time has finally arrived for the first tranche to be completed.
Over the last four and a half months exporters have worked with foreign governments, importers and the Australian Government to implement a secure supply chain.
As the date gets closer nervousness grows throughout the sheep industry that the trade will hopefully become, as Federal Minister for Agriculture Joe Ludwig has said "sustainable for the longer term".
WA Live Exporter Association chairman John Edwards said it had been a tough few months getting the ESCAS in place but admitted there could be delays in exports in March.
"Importers have been working 24/7 with Australian exporters and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) representatives to get this done," Mr Edwards said.
"However predicted difficulties arising out of the audit process, infrastructure upgrades and the bureaucratic process of in-country governance are likely to mean not all markets will be signed off in time.
"Compounding exporters' concerns is the issue that livestock vessels departing Australia for the Arabian Gulf markets all have multiple country destinations.
"Sending vessels that are not full may put the viability of shipments in jeopardy."
Mr Edwards said ESCAS was not a simple or straight forward process for any of Australia's markets and a number of vessels were due to load this month before the deadline.
"There is concern among exporters some shipments may have to be delayed next month if ESCAS is not in place," he said.
"For vessel owners and exporters any delays to normal operations is not an option without causing major disruptions to shipping schedules, Middle East food security and alienating our overseas customers."
He said if that was to occur it would have disastrous affect on the farm gate.
"It would have major repercussions for producer's livelihoods at a time of the year when feed and water supplies on-farm reach crucial levels," he said.
"Farmers can ill-afford to be to be carrying high stock numbers in such an event.
"Exporters are confident, however, that Tranche 1 markets will have some or all supply chains compliant in the near future but in the interim there are still many minor issues requiring attention and some delays to the trade are likely before the necessary approvals are secured."
Last year Kuwait was the largest market for Australian sheep taking 952,642 sheep valued at A$123,246,000.
While Bahrain imported 344,450 sheep valued at A$49,881,000, Qatar brought in 395,752 sheep valued at A$56,640,000 and Turkey imported 352,352 sheep valued at A$44,931,000.
"Australian exporters to Tranche 1 markets continue the difficult process of putting systems in place to support the compliance process as well as systems supporting the evidence of compliance in meeting the standards," Mr Edwards said.
"Exporters have all been adamant all along that it was going to be a difficult undertaking in the time frames set by the Australian Government.
"But this has not detracted them from pushing ahead with their clients in these markets and developing the preparedness needed for shipments leaving Australian ports next month."
Mr Edwards said the regulation had been a steep learning curve for their overseas customers and it was the willingness of the importers and in-country governments who had helped make the transition to ESCAS.
Wellard Rural Exports managing director Steve Meerwald said there was still a lot of work to be done.
"For us our shipping program means we are not due to load until March/April, so we have a little bit more time," Mr Meerwald said.
"But the three Gulf markets should be physically up to standard.
"It is just whether or not the paperwork has gone through.
"The approvals to be done by the end of February are doubtful but that is going ahead at a very furious pace.
"So we are hoping it won't impact our program."
A spokesperson from Federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig's office said the Minister remained committed to delivering the reforms as announced by the Australian Government in response to the Farmer Review.
"In addition to Minister Ludwig's recent delegation visit to the Middle East and the visit to Turkey by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), the department also sent a senior officer and a former DAFF agriculture counsellor to the Middle East," the spokesperson said.
"They have provided exporters and importers with further assistance in establishing their supply chain assurance systems.
"The government and the industry are committed to working together to ensure the new regulatory arrangements."
The spokesperson said exporters were continuing to progress their supply chain assurance systems to meet the requirements of the new regulatory framework.
"To date there has been two notices of intention submitted to export livestock after 29 February 2012 to tranche 1 countries," they said.
"DAFF continues to work very closely with a number of exporters to provide advice and assistance as they establish their ESCAS arrangements and submit their applications to export.
"As at the present time, no approvals have been granted by DAFF, however it is not unusual for the application process to take a few days.
"DAFF continues to work with the individual exporters as they prepare and submit the necessary documentation required to support their applications to export."
p Australia exported a total of 2,458,448 sheep last year. WA was the largest export state for sheep, shipping 1,702,558 sheep, valued at A$221 million. Victoria (481,299 sheep) was the second largest export state in 2011, followed by South Australia (273,267 sheep)
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