performance monitoring report to the Minister and one related report to growers during the year. Legislative change On 5 March 2008, the Minister released an exposure draft of the Wheat Export Marketing Bill 2008. The EWC was required to undertake considerable preliminary work on new governance and other arrangements in the lead-up to the establishment of the new body, Wheat Exports Australia. The changes presented new challenges for the EWC, including a requirement to draft a legislative instrument to create an accreditation scheme for bulk exporters. The EWC consulted widely with industry in formulating the Wheat Export Accreditation Scheme (Bulk-Scheme), undertaking preliminary consultations in March and then releasing an exposure draft of the Scheme in June. In June 2008, the Government passed legislation in Parliament that reformed the export of wheat in bulk, ending the wheat export monopoly arrangement held by AWBI since privatisation of the Australian Wheat Board in 1999. Other outcomes The EWC significantly improved its performance in all areas of its ongoing business while successfully meeting the new demands of the legislative changes and without undue disruption to the export wheat industry. The EWC continued to refine its business processes in its key functional areas of bulk export consents, administration the Non-bulk Wheat Quality Assurance Scheme (Non-bulk Scheme) and the performance monitoring of AWBI. At the direction of the Minister, the EWC also completed three Ministerial investigations during the reporting period. During 2007–08, the EWC received and assessed a total of 54 applications for bulk exports, consulting with AWBI and providing detailed comments and recommendations to the Minister. The Minister approved six applications for 950,000 tonnes in five markets. The EWC ensured that its consent compliance requirements for bulk wheat exports were met by exporters. Following the liberalisation of wheat exports in containers and bags on 27 August 2007, the EWC administered the Non-bulk Scheme and during the reporting period, accredited 62 packers with 103 sites, 12 laboratories with 31 sites and six superintendence companies with 18 sites. The EWC also processed and checked more than 4,000 packer notifications of exports in bags and containers and ensured they complied with the Non-bulk Scheme. The EWC liaised with industry and grower organisations in relation to the Non-bulk Scheme during the year and introduced a new online notification form to increase efficiency for users as well as the EWC. The EWC also continued to liaise with the Australian Customs