Notifications for Australia (406 notifications)

This Proposal seeks to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to align the following maximum residue limits (MRLs) for various agricultural and veterinary chemicals so that they are consistent with other national regulations relating to the safe and effective use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals:- Afidopyropen, Bixafen, Cinmethylin, Dithiocarbamates, Emamectin, Etofenprox, Etoxazole, Imidacloprid, Indoxacarb, Iprodione and Prothioconazole in specified plant commodities; - Amoxycillin, Cinmethylin and Etofenprox in specified animal commodities.

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture has, as a result of requests to extend the comment period for the draft review entitled "Importation of cooked duck meat from Thailand - Draft Review", extended the comment period until 30 September 2019. The original notification to the WTO was G/SPS/N/AUS/481 on 19 July 2019. More information is available at: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/animal/cooked-duck-meat-thailand.

The Australian Government has released an exposure draft of the Export Control Bill 2019 (the Bill), with the Bill itself expected to be introduced into the Australian Parliament for consideration late in 2019.The Bill consolidates export-related provisions currently within the Export Control Act 1982 and Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry Act 1997 into a single Export Control Bill. Commodity-specific requirements will then be reflected in the new Export Control Rules (the rules), which will replace the current Export Control Orders without changing their intent. Initial consultation on meat, milk, eggs and fish rules has already taken place, with drafting continuing on the remaining commodity specific rules, due for release in 2020. Trading partners will be provided with an opportunity to comment on all the rules in 2020.Trading partners should be assured that existing levels of government oversight and regulatory powers will be maintained within the new legislation. Australia's ability to meet importing country requirements and international trade obligations will not be impacted as a result of these improvements.Improved export legislation provides the framework for complying with exporting requirements, creating a system that is more flexible and efficient to administer. This will ensure the continued integrity of Australia's export system and promote consistent and efficient administration across Australia's export chains.Business practices and regulatory requirements will remain consistent between the current and future legislation. The continuation of current business practices means costs for regulatory services will remain the same.Further information on the Bill is available from the Australian Department of Agriculture website at http://www.agriculture.gov.au/market-access-trade/improving-export-legislation

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture (the department) is undertaking a series of seed reviews of the import conditions for four key vegetable families: Apiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Brassicaceae and Solanaceae as a result of changes in risks associated with the international movement of these seeds.This review of brassicaceous vegetable seeds for sowing is the first of the series finalised.This review of brassicaceous vegetable seeds for sowing identified two quarantine pests associated with the seeds of several brassicaceous vegetable seeds. The identified quarantine pests are:- Colletotrichum higginsianum (seed-borne in Brassica rapa and Raphanus sativus); and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. raphani (seed-borne in Eruca vesicaria and Raphanus sativusThe unrestricted risks of these quarantine pests exceed Australia's appropriate level of protection (ALOP). Consequently, additional pest risk management measures are required to manage the risks posed by the quarantine pests to a level that achieves Australia's ALOP.In addition to the department's standard seeds for sowing import conditions, four pest risk management options are recommended for seeds for sowing for the species Brassica rapa, Eruca vesicaria and Raphanus sativus: Option 1. Broad-spectrum fungicidal treatment - to manage the risk of both Colletotrichum higginsianum and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. raphani; OR Option 2. Heat treatment - to manage the risk of Colletotrichum higginsianum only; OR Option 3. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test - to manage the risk of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. raphani only; OR Option 4. Heat treatment and PCR test combined - to manage the risk of both Colletotrichum higginsianum and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. raphani.If the required treatment or testing is undertaken off-shore, phytosanitary certification is required with the additional declaration that the testing or treatment has been conducted in accordance with Australia's requirements. Brassica rapaEruca vesicaria and Raphanus sativus seeds for sprouting or micro-greens production for human consumption are exempt from these additional measures if imported directly into Australia for germination at a production facility operated under an Approved Arrangement. This is to mitigate risks from the diversion of seeds to other end-uses.Seeds of most brassicaceous vegetable species reviewed were not found to be hosts of quarantine pests for Australia and they will continue to be subject only to the department's standard seeds for sowing import conditions.The draft report was published on the Department of Agriculture website on 14 February 2018 for a 60 day stakeholder consultation period (G/SPS/N/AUS/445). Comments raised by stakeholders were taken into consideration in the preparation of the final report.The key changes made in the final report are: The inclusion of other pest risk management options (heat treatment and PCR testing) that are suitable for both organic and non-organic seeds sectors The removal of measures previously proposed for Brassica oleracea due to insufficient evidence for Colletotrichum higginsianum to be considered seed-borne in this host. The completed final report is available in English on the Australian Government Department of Agriculture website at http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/plant/brassicaceous-crop-seeds.

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture has completed the risk analysis for the importation of fresh breadfruit from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga into Australia. The final report recommends a combination of risk management measures and a system of operational procedures that will reduce the phytosanitary risks associated with the importation of fresh breadfruit from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga to a level that achieves Australia's appropriate level of protection.The final report recommends that the importation of fresh breadfruit from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga into Australia be permitted, subject to the application of the phytosanitary measures, as outlined in the final report, for fruit flies and mealybugs.The draft report for this risk analysis was published on the Australian Government Department of Agriculture website on 4 October 2018 for a 60 day stakeholder consultation period and was notified to WTO Members (G/SPS/N/AUS/459). The final report is available in English on the Australian Government Department of Agriculture website at http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/plant/breadfruit-pacific.

Australia is implementing biosecurity measures for the control of canine influenza virus (CIV) in dogs exported to Australia from approved countries where CIV is present. These include the requirement for all approved countries where CIV is present to vaccinate dogs prior to export to Australia.The requirement for CIV vaccination was previously implemented following the risk assessment published in November 2013 titled: Final Policy Review: Importation of dogs and cats and their semen from approved countries, that determined that measures were required for CIV. As a result of the identified international spread of CIV since 2013 Australia has undertaken a review of the risks and is expanding application of the measure for CIV to manage the sanitary risk. Relevant trading partners affected by this change will be contacted directly by the Department of Agriculture about these requirements.

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture has completed this risk analysis in response to the market access request for fresh decrowned pineapples from Chinese Taipei into Australia. The final report recommends a combination of a risk management measure and a system of operational procedures that will reduce the risk associated with the importation of decrowned pineapples from Chinese Taipei to achieve Australia's appropriate level of protection.The final report recommends that the importation of decrowned pineapples into Australia from Chinese Taipei meets Australia's biosecurity requirements subject to risk management measures for quarantine mealybugs (five species) and regulated thrips (two species).The draft report for this risk analysis was published on the Australian Government Department of Agriculture website on 29 August 2018 for a 60 day stakeholder consultation period and was notified to WTO members (G/SPS/N/AUS/457). The final report is available in English on the Australian Government Department of Agriculture website at http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/plant/pineapples-from-taiwan.

The Department of Agriculture has released a draft review of the risk management of cooked duck meat from Thailand for a 60-day stakeholder consultation period. The draft review recommends that the importation of cooked duck meat be permitted from Thailand provided the following measures are applied which will reduce any biosecurity risks identified to a level that is consistent with Australia's appropriate level of protection: - cooking duck meat to a minimum core temperature of 70 °C for at least 8.2 minutes; - sourcing duck meat from abattoirs and processing facilities approved by Thailand's Department of Livestock Development and from birds hatched and continually resident in Thailand; - importing muscle meat or muscle meat with overlying fat and skin only (no whole birds). >Submissions proposing equivalence measures for cooking time and temperature will be assessed on a case-by-case. The Department of Agriculture intends to release a final review on the risk management of cooked duck meat from Thailand following consideration of comments received in response to the draft review.

The Board of Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) approved Proposal M1016 – Maximum Residue Limits (2018) proposed in the SPS notification G/SPS/N/AUS/465 (dated 13 December 2018) on 1 May 2019. The regulation was considered by the Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation on 15 July 2019. Ministers supported the Board's decision and the amendments to Schedule 20 of the Food Standards will be gazetted 25 July 2019. The Proposal sought to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to align maximum residue limits (MRLs) for various agricultural and veterinary chemicals with Codex and trading partner standards.

On 9 November 2015 Australia notified of the implementation of emergency measures for the import of nursery stock, tissue cultures, cuttings, budwood, rooted plants, corms and bulbs against Xylella fastidiosa and related Xylella species.Following the notification of the presence of Xylella fastidiosa in Israel on 25 June 2019 (EPPO Reporting Service no. 06 – 2019), Australia notifies that it has extended the list of Xylella spp. high risk countries that require specific import conditions for import to Australia to include Israel, effective 6 July 2019. This addition and current measures are described in the following link: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/goods/plant-products/how-to-import-plants/xylella/notification-amended-emergency-quarantine-measures

Changes to existing certification and post-entry processing requirements for salmonid products sourced from approved countries (excluding New Zealand).New import conditions will apply from 1 September 2019 for salmonid products sourced from approved countries excluding New Zealand.From this date, all salmon products must comply with the new conditions to be allowed entry into Australia. We will continue to accept salmon products under the existing import conditions in the interim period.Further information is available at: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/memos/ba2019-a04

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture (the department) has updated the list of countries that are regulated as known Khapra beetle countries (the full list is available at: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/arrival/pests/khapra_beetle The following countries have been added to the list of countries that are known Khapra beetle countries and are now regulated as a country known to have Khapra beetle: 1. Kazakhstan; 2. Kyrgyz Republic; 3. Spain; 4. Switzerland; 5. Tajikistan; 6. Uzbekistan. For seed, grain and stored plant products (excluding fresh produce) arriving as a Full Container Load (FCL) from a listed Khapra beetle country, the consignments must be accompanied with a phytosanitary certificate, issued by the exporting countries National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) with the following additional declaration "The plant product(s) were inspected and found free from Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium For FCL consignments arriving to Australia from known Khapra beetle countries without a phytosanitary certificate with the required phytosanitary declaration the consignment will be subjected to a full unpack (for inspection) at a class 1.1 approved arrangement site.

The Department of Agriculture is making two corrections to notification G/SPS/N/AUS/479, dated 5 July 2019: 1. Amendment of the list of countries likely to be affected to include Andorra, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia; 2. The link has been updated: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/bmsb.

In response to the rapid expansion of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) throughout Europe and North America, the Australian Government has strengthened seasonal measures for the 2019-20 season to manage the risk of BMSB arriving in Australia.Target risk countries have increased from 10 in the 2018-19 risk season to 33 in the 2019-20 season. Measures will apply to certain goods manufactured in, or shipped from target risk countries, and/or vessels that berth at, load or tranship from target risk countries.All roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) vessels will be subject to heightened vessel surveillance.All ro-ro vessels that berth at, load or tranship in target risk countries from 1 September 2019 and that arrive in Australian territory by 31 May 2020 (inclusive) will be required to:- conduct self-inspections and respond to specific questions as part of the pre-arrival reporting requirements; and- undergo a mandatory seasonal pest inspection on arrival in Australia.Due to the changing risk status of BMSB, random onshore inspections on goods from emerging risk countries will be undertaken to verify pest absence.The measures will apply to goods loaded from 1 September 2019 and that arrive in Australian territory by 31 May 2020 (inclusive).These measures are required to effectively manage the biosecurity risk from BMSB and to achieve Australia's appropriate level of protection.The approved treatment options for BMSB risk are heat treatment, methyl bromide fumigation and sulfuryl fluoride fumigation. Further information on the seasonal measures, including advice on target risk countries, measures for vessels, target high risk goods, measures relating to goods, exemptions, treatment options and rates, safeguarding arrangements and Industry Advice Notices are published on http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/before/brown-marmorated-stink-bugs/offshore-treatment-providersA draft pest risk analysis report that identifies BMSB as a pest requiring risk management measures in order to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia was released in August 2017 and is available at:http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/plant/brown-marmorated-stink-bug

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture (the department) has completed the risk analysis for Cut Flower and Foliage Imports — Part 1. The final report recommends a combination of risk management measures and a system of operational procedures that will reduce the risk associated with the importation of cut flowers and foliage to a level that achieves Australia's appropriate level of protection. The final report recommends that the importation of cut flowers and foliage into Australia be permitted, subject to the application of phytosanitary measures. Phytosanitary measures are required for the management of 47 mite species, 21 aphid species and 84 thrips species identified as quarantine pests and/or regulated articles. The draft report for this risk analysis was published on the department's website on 14 November 2018 (G/SPS/N/AUS/435/Add.2). The consultation period was extended until 15 March 2019 (G/SPS/N/AUS/435/Add.3).The final Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) supports the changes to Australia's import conditions introduced in March 2018 (see SPS notifications G/SPS/N/AUS/435 and G/SPS/N/AUS/435/Add.1). The revised conditions require that quarantine risks are appropriately reduced offshore before shipments are sent to Australia using an NPPO-approved systems approach, methyl bromide fumigation or an alternative NPPO-approved pre-shipment treatment. Under the changes, remedial fumigation, export or destruction can be applied onshore to address any live quarantine pests found.   The final PRA also supports further steps being taken by the department to address very high levels of non-compliance. From 1 September 2019, countries that are found to have ongoing very high levels of non-compliance using a systems approach and with high trade volumes in the period leading up to July 2019 will be required to use alternative pre-export pest management options to send cut flowers and foliage to Australia. Alternatively, importers may apply for import permits from 1 July 2019 to use the systems approach from those countries from 1 September 2019. If systems are introduced by NPPOs in exporting countries that result in decreased pest interceptions, the NPPO may apply to have the system reinstated. Submissions will require a formal evaluation, including a possible audit, and the outcome will be decided by the department.The department is notifying the countries and their importers likely to be affected by the 1 September 2019 changes individually. The final PRA report is available in English on the department's website at http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/plant/cut-flowersInformation about the additional steps Australia is undertaking from 1 September 2019 to address high non-compliance with the cut flower import conditions is available on the department's website at http://www.agriculture.gov.au/cut-flowers

Changes to existing certification and post-entry processing requirements for salmonid products sourced from approved countries (excluding New Zealand).

At the request of stakeholders, Australia has extended the timeframe for comments on the abovementioned report, which is available at http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/memos/ba2019-a03

As notified on 2 April 2019 (G/SPS/N/AUS/469/Add.1), from 15 April 2019, only seed lots imported under Phase 3 (PCR) conditions will be permitted entry into Australia. In response to comments from stakeholders and recent test results, Australia has reviewed the previously approved PCR primers and updated the approved list. This has resulted in the removal of primers used by Li et al. (2018) and the inclusion of a new primer set (effective 7 June 2019). Australia has also finalised its PCR protocol with recommended primers for the detection of ToBRFV, which is now published on the department's website: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/goods/plant-products/seeds-for-sowing/emergency-measures-tobrfv. Other PCR primers and protocols will be considered where evidence of efficacy of the test is provided, on a case-by-case basis.

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (the department) has finalized a risk analysis in response to the market access request for longan fruit from Viet Nam into Australia. The final report recommends a combination of risk management measures and a system of operational procedures that will reduce the risk associated with the importation of longan fruit from Viet Nam to achieve Australia's appropriate level of protection. The final report recommends that the importation of fresh longan fruit from Viet Nam into Australia be permitted, subject to the application of the phytosanitary measures, as outlined in the final report, for fruit flies (two species), mealybugs (eight species), moths (one species), and thrips (two species). The draft report for this risk analysis was published on the department's website on 10 December 2018 for a 75 day stakeholder consultation period (G/SPS/N/AUS/463). The completed final report is available in English on the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website at http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/plant/longans-from-vietnam.

Draft pest risk analysis and the proposed measures to achieve Australia's appropriate level of protection for the import of fresh strawberries from Japan. The draft report includes: Australia's biosecurity policy framework and this pest risk analysis; Method for pest risk analysis; Japan's commercial production practices for strawberries; Pest risk assessments; Pest risk management; Pest categorization.