AQIS originally proposed to increase the costs for electronic and manual export certification services by 500pc and 1300pc respectively.

Senator Boswell says that massive increase in costs was proposed despite, in the case of electronic health certificates, the exporter doing nearly all the work.

"Under questioning in Senate Estimates last week I asked representatives of AQIS, what services the wool industry received for the charges they paid and whether it was true that in the case of health certificates, that there is no actual inspection of the wool at all?" Senator Boswell said today.

"In response, AQIS said they would come back to me on these issues.

"As a result the wool industry has been notified by AQIS that they have revisited their charge structure.

"The industry has been advised that instead of it costing $450 for a manual health certificate, it will now cost $100, and rather than the proposed $99 for an electronic certificate, AQIS will charge only $64."

Senator Boswell said the policy change would be worth around $250,000 to the industry in costs.

"While the main focus of attention on AQIS charges has been the massive increases to the food industries, the non-food industries have also been in the firing line," he said.

"I hope that this concession will also see a review of all AQIS charges on food related export industries."