The applications were considered at a recent WEA Board Meeting, and the following companies now have accreditations renewed:

Renewals have been granted to: ABB Grain Ltd, Goodman Fielder Consumer Foods Pty Ltd, Grain Pool Pty Ltd, GrainCorp Operations Limited, JK International Pty Ltd, Lempriere Grain Pty Ltd and Pentag Commodities Pty Limited

CEO of WEA, Peter Woods, said exporters owning or operating port terminal facilities had provided guarantees of fair access to their port facilities to other accredited wheat exporters.

The accreditation renewal of ABB Grain Ltd, Grain Pool Pty Ltd and GrainCorp Operations Limited, for instance, were subject to an ACCC access test in relation to their port terminal service.

Those access arrangements, now approved after resubmission, will unlock constraints at grain ports, to the benefit of the overall Australian economy, Mr Woods says.

They will promote the development of a wheat export marketing industry that is efficient, competitive and advances the needs of wheat growers.

Mr Woods explained that an exporter must fulfil a number of criteria including the exporter’s financial resources, business record and risk management arrangements.

Between October 1, 2008, and August 30, 2009, more than 11 million tonnes of bulk wheat were exported to 42 countries, by 17 accredited exporters.

WEA will continue to process new applications as they are received.

* Details of exporters’ Conditions of Accreditation can be viewed at WEA’s online Register of Accredited Exporters – www.wea.gov.au.