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:- Amicarbazone in specified plant commodities - Abamectin, Amicarbazone, Bixafen, Cypermethrin, Cyromazine, Halosulfuron-methyl and Sulfoxaflor in specified animal commodities.

Schedule 20 of the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code has been varied to establish new or higher Maximum Residue Limits for Abamectin, Afidopyropen, Azoxystrobin, Bifenthrin, Buprofezin, Cyantraniliprole, Cyazofamid, Cyhalothrin, Dithiocarbamates, Endothal, Florpyrauxifen-benzyl, Fludioxonil, Flupicolide, Fluroxypyr, Imazalil, Isopyrazam, Metribuzin, Myclobutanil, Oxathiapiprolin, Propamocarb, Prosulfocarb and Pydiflumetofen.

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:[1]              The table to section S20–3 in Schedule 20 is varied by[1.1]           omitting from each of the following chemicals, the foods and associated MRLsAgvet chemical: EndothalPermitted residue:  EndothalPotato0.1[1.3]           omitting for each of the following chemicals, the maximum residue limit for the food and substitutingAgvet chemical:  ClothianidinPermitted residue:  ClothianidinCherimoyaT0.1Custard appleT0.1IlamaT0.1OlivesT0.3SoursopT0.1Sugar appleT0.1

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: Acetamiprid, Emamectin, Metalaxyl, Novaluron, Pendimethalin, Penflufen and Prochloraz, in specified plant commodities.

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has completed this risk analysis in response to the market access request for Tahitian lime (Citrus latifolia) fruit from the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu into Australia. The final report recommends risk management measures and a system of operational procedures that will reduce the risk associated with the importation of fresh Tahitian lime fruit to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia.The report recommends that the importation of fresh Tahitian limes be permitted from the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu, subject to pre-export phytosanitary inspection to ensure consignments are free of quarantine pests.The draft review report was published on the Department's website on 6 June 2017 for a 60-day stakeholder consultation period and was published as an SPS notification with reference number G/SPS/N/AUS/425 on 6 June 2017.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/tahitian-limes

As set out in Biosecurity Advice 2018/06 on the department's website at: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/memos/ba2018-06.The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is conducting a review of Australia's import conditions for prawns and prawn products (from all countries) for human consumption.The review was announced in May 2017 in Biosecurity Advice 2017/07.As part of the review, Australia invites submissions from trading partners on specific issues with (1) Australia's current prawn import conditions and (2) the "Final generic import risk analysis report for prawns and prawn products" (released in 2009). Australia's current prawn import conditions were implemented on 7 July 2017 and notified in G/SPS/N/AUS/412/Add.8.Australia's current prawn import conditions and the "Final generic import risk analysis report for prawns and prawn products" are available on the department's website at: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/animal/prawns Submissions should include a scientific basis for any proposed changes. Submissions will be considered when preparing a draft report as part of the review of import conditions for prawns and prawn products. Trading partners will be informed of the release of the draft report and will have the opportunity to provide comment.

Acknowledging the change in risk profile, the department is undertaking an extensive review of the existing import conditions for vegetable seeds, including those for brassicaceous crops. The review identified two fungal pests, associated with the seeds of several brassicaceous crops, as meeting the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) criteria for a quarantine pest. The identified quarantine pests are Colletotrichum higginsianum and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. raphani. The unrestricted risks of these quarantine pests do not achieve the appropriate level of protection (ALOP) for Australia.This review evaluated the effectiveness of existing risk management measures for the identified quarantine pests, and proposes additional mandatory phytosanitary measures to reduce the risk of their introduction into Australia. Standard requirements for the importation of seeds for sowing apply to all brassicaceous seeds. The department proposes additional phytosanitary measures for seeds of Brassica oleracea, Brassica rapa, Eruca vesicaria and Raphanus sativusThe proposed additional phytosanitary measures require:· Mandatory fungicidal treatment (off-shore or on-shore) for seeds of Brassica oleracea, Brassica rapa, Eruca vesicaria and Raphanus sativus as specified in this review;· Seed lots treated off-shore to be accompanied by an official government Phytosanitary Certificate endorsed with the additional declaration that the consignment has undergone mandatory treatment in accordance with Australian import conditions.

Draft pest risk analysis and the proposed measures to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia for the import of fresh dragon fruit from Indonesia. The draft report includes: Summary; Introduction, including Australia's biosecurity policy framework and this pest risk analysis; Method for pest risk analysis; Indonesia's commercial production practices for dragon fruit; Pest risk assessments for quarantine pests; Pest risk management; Conclusion; and Pest categorisation.

This notification advises that revised phytosanitary measures for the importation of all containerised goods originating in Italy and exported from all ports in Europe which load cargo manufactured or stored in Italy have been introduced. These measures are required to effectively manage the biosecurity risk from brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSB) and to achieve Australia's appropriate level of protection. All containerised goods from Italy will now require treatment, either applied offshore or on arrival, as of 17 January 2018 as per previous measures announced in August 2017 (G/SPS/N/AUS/432).Treatments for BMSB are: - Sulfuryl fluoride – fumigation of at least 48g/m3 for 6 hours or longer or at least 16g/m3 for 12 hours or longer both with an end point reading of 50% or more of the initial concentration and conducted at a temperature of 10 °C or higher (please note this temperature is 5 °C lower than the methyl bromide conditions below). - Methyl bromide – fumigation of at least 16g/m3 for 12 hours or longer with an end point reading of 50% or more of the initial concentration and conducted at a temperature of 15 °C or higher (please note this temperature is 5 °C higher than the sulfuryl fluoride conditions above). - Heat – 50 °C or greater for at least 20 minutes. The minimum temperature of the coldest part of the treated good should reach at least 50 °C for at least 20 minutes. >Exceptions also apply for goods which fall within one of the excluded tariff groups: Fresh produce (including nursery stock and live plants) Live animals Food for human consumption Seed for sowingFurther information on the revised phytosanitary measure is available at: http://agriculture.gov.au/import/industry-advice/2018/04-2018A 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/memos/ba2017-18

This Proposal seeks to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to align maximum residue limits (MRLs) for various agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals so that they are consistent with other national regulations relating to the safe and effective use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals; and to align certain limits with Codex or trading partner standards relating to residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food.The agvet chemicals being considered for specified plant commodities are:Acetamiprid, Acetochlor, Aldicarb, Ametoctradin, Amitraz, Amitrole, Azoxystrobin, Benzovindiflupyr, Bitertanol, Buprofezin, Carbendazim, Carbofuran, Chlorfluazuron, Chlorpyrifos, Chlorpyrifos-methyl, Clofentezine, Clothianidin, Cyhalothrin, Cyprodinil, 2,4-DB, Dicamba, Difenoconazole, Diflubenzuron, Diflufenican, Dimethenamid-P, Dithiocarbamates, Dodine, Emamectin, Endothal, Etoxazole, Fenarimol, Fenbuconazole, Fenbutatin oxide, Fenitrothion, Fenpropathrin, Fenpyrazamine, Fenpyroximate, Fipronil, Florfenicol, Fluazinam, Flumioxazin, Fluopyram, Fluxapyroxad, Fosetyl-aluminium, Imazamox, Ipconazole, Iprodione, Isofetamid, Maldison, MCPA, Mepanipyrim, Mesotrione, Metalaxyl, Metconazole, Methidathion, Methomyl, Metrafenone, Mevinphos, Naled, Oxadixyl, Oxathiapiprolin, Pebulate, Penconazole, Permethrin, Phorate, Phosmet, Phosphorous acid, Piperonyl butoxide, Pirimicarb, Profenofos, Propachlor, Propamocarb, Prothioconazole, Prothiofos, Pyraflufen-ethyl, Pyriofenone, Pyriproxyfen, Pyroxasulfone, Quinoxyfen, Spinetoram, Spinosad, Spirodiclofen, Spiromesifen, Spirotetramat, Teflubenzuron, Tetraconazole, Thiodicarb, Thiophanate-methyl, Trichlorfon, Tridemorph, Trifloxystrobin, and Trifluralin.MRLs for specified animal commodities are also being considered for: Aldicarb, Chlorfluazuron, Diflufenican, Ivermectin, Levamisole, Naled and Tylosin.

Australia has, in line with notification on 10 August 2016, changed the import requirements for retorted goods for human consumption. From 19 January 2018 consignments of retorted goods for human consumption will be required to be accompanied by government certification. Previously a combination of government endorsed manufacturers' declarations and government certificates was required. The move to a single set of conditions will ensure a consistent approach to imports of retorted products and reduce delays at the border.Import permits with the new conditions have been being issued for some time. However, by 19 January 2018 all remaining permits with the previous conditions will be changed to the new conditions. This means all imported retorted products must be accompanied by a government certificate after this date. During the period leading up to 19 January 2018 product arriving under the new standard conditions but accompanied by documents meeting previous conditions will be cleared. Retorted products arriving in Australia after 19 January 2018 that do not comply with the new conditions may be subject to re-export or destruction. The new import conditions for retorted goods for human consumption are available through the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) at: http://www.bicon.agriculture.gov.au/biconweb4.0.

The document outlines proposed changes to the Gene Technology Regulations 2001 which will clarify the classification of organisms that have been modified through the use of certain new technologies (two site directed nuclease techniques, oligo-directed mutagenesis and some RNA interference techniques). These changes will clarify which organisms will be required to be regulated as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Australia. They will also identify some organisms which will not require regulation as GMOs in Australia. The document also contains information on other proposed changes to the Regulations which are not relevant to the international community.

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:Florpyrauxifen-benzyl, Flutriafol, Pirimicarb and Sedaxane in specified plant commodities; Florpyrauxifen-benzyl in specified animal commodities.

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources released the Final group pest risk analysis for thrips and orthotospoviruses on fresh fruit, vegetable, cut-flower and foliage imports on 30 November 2017. Note that in the time since the draft report for this group pest risk analysis was notified, the virus name Tospovirus underwent taxonomic revision and was renamed Orthotospovirus. The final report concluded that a number of thrips and orthotospovirus are quarantine pests for Australia. The report also recommends that the regulatory status of three thrips species—Frankliniella schultzei, Scirtothrips dorsalis and Thrips tabaci—be changed from non-regulated to regulated because these thrips can carry and transmit quarantine orthotospoviruses. This change is not expected to significantly affect trade. Imported commodities will be regulated if they are infested with quarantine pest thrips or thrips vectors that transmit quarantine orthotospoviruses.The draft report for this risk analysis was notified (G/SPS/N/AUS/409) on 15 December 2016. The report was released for an extended 90 day stakeholder consultation period.The 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/memos/ba2017-26

The Australian Government introduced the Export Control Bill 2017 (the Bill) into the Australian Parliament for consideration on 7 December 2017. This follows the release of an exposure draft of the proposed changes for comment by trading partners in August 2017.The Bill consolidates export-related provisions 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 Export Control Rules, which will replace the current Export Control Orders without changing their intent. The Export Control Rules (the rules) are being drafted and trading partners will be provided with an opportunity to comment on the rules in 2018.There is no change to Australia's commitment to meet the importing requirements of our trading partners, and the improved legislation will continue to meet Australia's international obligations – including those under the SPS agreement.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 and Water Resources website at http://www.agriculture.gov.au/market-access-trade/export-regulation-review

Emergency phytosanitary measures for the importation of Citrullus lanatusCucumis meloCucumis sativa and Cucurbita pepo are being introduced to mitigate the biosecurity risk posed by Kyuri green mottle mosaic virus (KGMMV), Zucchini green mottle mosaic virus (ZGMMV) and Phomopsis cucurbitae.

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources initiated this review in response to recent incursions of some seed-borne pathogens in Australia, such as Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV). The review has identified several seed-borne pathogens of cucurbitaceous crops which meet the International Plant Protection Convention criteria for a quarantine pest. The identified quarantine pests, in addition to CGMMV, include Kyuri green mottle mosaic virus (KGMMV), Melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV), Phomopsis cucurbitae and Zucchini green mottle mosaic virus (ZGMMV)This review evaluates the effectiveness of existing risk management measures for identified biosecurity risks and proposes additional mandatory phytosanitary measures to reduce the risk of introduction of the identified quarantine pests. Standard requirements for the importation of seed for sowing apply to cucurbitaceous seeds from all sources. The department proposes additional phytosanitary measures for Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis melo, Cucumis sativusCucurbita maximaCucurbita moschataCucurbita pepo, Lagenaria siceraria and Trichosanthes cucumerina and any hybrid of these species.The proposed additional phytosanitary measures include: - Mandatory testing or treatment (off-shore or on-shore) for seeds of Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis melo, Cucumis sativus, Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata, Cucurbita pepo, Lagenaria siceraria and Trichosanthes cucumerina and any hybrid of these species as specified in this review; - Seed lots tested or treated off-shore be accompanied by an official government Phytosanitary Certificate endorsed with the additional declaration that the consignment has undergone mandatory treatment or testing in accordance with Australian import conditions.

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has completed a final pest risk analysis for CGMMV. This pest risk analysis was initiated in response to the introduction of emergency measures for the importation of Citrullus lanatusCucumis meloCucumis sativusCucurbita maximaCucurbita moschataCucurbita pepoLagenaria sicerariaTrichosanthes cucumerina and any hybrid of these species.The draft pest risk analysis was released on 7 April 2016 for a 30 day stakeholder consultation period, which was extended for a further 30 days in response to the requests received from stakeholders, and was published as a SPS notification with reference number G/SPS/N/AUS/384.The import conditions for cucurbit seeds associated with CGMMV are summarised below:  - Testing – mandatory off-shore or on-shore testing by International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) validated Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) or a PCR method approved by the department on a sample size of 9,400 seeds (or 20 per cent for small seed lots) to verify freedom from CGMMV; AND  - Certification – seed lots tested off-shore must be accompanied by an official government Phytosanitary Certificate endorsed with the following additional declaration: 'The consignment of [botanical nameGenus species)] was tested by ELISA [insert laboratory name and report number] on a sample size of 9,400 seeds (or 20 per cent of small seed lots) and found free from CGMMV'; OR 'The consignment of [botanical nameGenus species)] was tested by PCR [insert laboratory name and report number] on a sample size of 9,400 seeds (or 20 per cent of small seed lots) and found free from CGMMV'; AND  - On-arrival inspection – seed lots must be inspected on arrival to verify freedom from live insects, soil, disease symptoms, prohibited seeds, other plant material (for example, leaf, stem material, fruit pulp and pod material), animal material (for example, animal faeces and feathers) and any other extraneous contamination of quarantine concern.

The Australian Government, through the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, has commenced consultation on an exposure draft of the Biosecurity Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2017 (the Bill).The Bill makes amendments to the Biosecurity Act 2015 to enhance operation of Australia's biosecurity framework. The measures included in the Bill will:  - enhance information gathering powers to assist in the management of biosecurity risk;  - make minor and technical amendments to improve administration of the Biosecurity Act 2015 by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Department of Health;  - provide an improved ability to amend legislated biosecurity import conditions in response to changing biosecurity risk. >Consultation on the exposure draft commenced on 17 November 2017 and will close on 30 January 2018. The Australian Government encourages all interested stakeholders to read the exposure draft and participate in the consultation process via https://haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/amendments-biosecurity-act

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has completed a risk analysis in response to the market access request for fresh peach, plum and apricot fruit from China into Australia. The final report identified 20 pests of quarantine concern to Australia and recommends a combination of risk management measures and a system of operational procedures that will reduce the risks associated with the importation of fresh peach, plum and apricot fruit from China to a level that would achieve Australia's appropriate level of protection.The draft report for this risk analysis was published on the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website on 1 August 2017 for a 30 day stakeholder consultation period and with a WTO SPS notification with reference number G/SPS/N/AUS/430 published on 2 August 2017.The 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/memos/ba2017-23