Brewlab Yeast Slope Bulk Buy Final Details (at last!)
Order and cost details outlined on this spread sheet:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=0As...amp;output=html
Please check the spreadsheet (NOT the running list above), the spreadsheet is what I will send to Brewlab.
The slopes will be made-to-order by Brewlab when they receive our order, and will be shipped 2 days later.
Pending no issues with Customs or Quarantine, the slopes should arrive here in 1-2 weeks.
In regard to AQIS, I have NOT applied for an Import Permit to bring the slopes into Australia, to the best of my knowledge Brewlab have only sent 1 slope to Australia before (and that is in my fridge), in addition yeast samples on malt/agar do not seem to be something that AQIS deal with often (if ever before).
The after a number of telephone calls and emails, the following emails are the conclusion of my communication with AQIS:
Scott,
Beacuse the Malt agar / jelly is a grain based carrier you'll need to get in contact with the biologicals unit to apply for an import permit.
Biologicals Unit Canberra 02 6272 4578
Regards
Valeska Espinosa
Entry Management Unit
South East Region
However, after several telephone calls and emails to the "Biologicals Unit" the query was resolved via email with the following:
Dear Scott,
The ICON case for "Starter cultures for human food and beverage manufacture" has now been updated to incorporate your suggestion. Plant Quarantine Operations and the Biological Imports Program are both satisfied that Approved starter cultures that are on a malt agar carrier (providing the carrier contains no discernible malt grains) presents a very low level of quarantine risk. As such, an import permit will not be required to import products of this sort.
Please be aware that although an import permit is not required you will need to provide documentation as listed under point 5 of condition C5413. You will need to state (5e) that "the product is not on a grain or milk based carrier other than malt agar". For your information I have attached a link to the relevant ICON case.
Good luck with your brewing club.
Kind regards,
Andrea Roberts
Assessing Officer
Biological Imports Program
Biosecurity Services Group
Department of Agricuture, Fisheries and Forestry
Brewlab have written a cover letter to cater for the AQIS requirements and which will accompany the yeast, as per the attached file:
View attachment Yeast_accompanying_letter_Australia.doc (My address has been removed from the .doc)
To the best of my ability I have checked that the slopes will be allowed without an Import Permit, and that there are no other Quarantine or Customs requirements.
However, this is not something I can guarantee, and it is possible that the shipment may be stopped, held or not permitted, so if anyone is uncomfortable with the process or information outlined above, please remove yourself from the Bulk Buy, there is no problem with you doing that.
Obviously any issues with Quarantine or Customs are not Brewlab's fault so there will be no refund for the slopes if we cannot import them (I would, of course, refund any Australian-postage costs).
Cost per slope: $4.85 AUD
This cost includes the slope (at bulk discount rate from Brewlab), shared shipping costs from UK at Aus, PayPal conversion from $AUD to UK and PayPal Transaction fee.
Shipping costs within Australia:
For 1 or 2 Slopes, postage remains at $2 per slope.
For 3 or 4 Slopes, a Post Pack is $6.
For 5 or more Slopes, Express Post pack is $8.40.
If you ordered less than 5 slopes and would like me to send your parcel Express Post, adjust the postage to a total of $8.40.
Those in Melbourne are welcome to come and pick them up from my place in Berwick.
The slopes will be shipped from the UK to Aus and within Aus in standard unrefrigerated post packs.
Alison at Brewlab has been conducting an experiment to test the viability of yeast over time (when the slopes are kept at 27C), after several weeks she has reported that they are still viable and the test is continuing, so there
should be no problem with this shipping procedure.
Brewlab require payment in UK via PayPal, so it's easiest/best for me to accept payments the same way.
I will PM everyone with payment details, but if you don't have a PayPal account, please let me know and we'll work something else out.
Please reply to my PM when you have paid, and include your PayPal payment email address, so that I can track who has paid.
I'd like to finalize the order before the end of the week, so prompt payment will make things much easier.
Order and cost details outlined on this spread sheet:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=0As...amp;output=html
Please check the spreadsheet (NOT the running list above), the spreadsheet is what I will send to Brewlab.
Sorry if it all sounds formal and difficult, I just want to make sure everyone understands the situation before we continue.
Thanks to everyone who has/will participate in the Bulk Buy, it's turned out much bigger than I (or Brewlab) expected.
Regards,
Wolfy
