Notifications for Australia (406 notifications)

On 24 April 2024, Australia issued an SPS notification (G/SPS/N/AUS/587) informing trading partners of the release of the draft report of a review of import conditions for the importation of zoo hippopotamuses and their semen from approved countries for consultation.The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has assessed submissions received during the consultation period. As a result, minor changes were made to proposed import conditions. The review report has now been finalized. Imports of zoo hippopotamuses and their semen from approved countries may now occur in accordance with the import requirements detailed in the review report.

The following correction for notification G/SPS/N/AUS/603 is outlined below.Item 11: Removal of the following text  “The proposed increase to the 2,4-D Walnuts MRLfrom *0.05 mg/kg to 0.2 mg/kg is considered to be trade facilitating noting that Codex, the European Union and the United States of America have established 2,4-D MRLs/tolerances for Tree nuts at 0.2 mg/kg. Therefore, this specific MRL change will progress without the normal consultation period.”

Australia has reviewed our import conditions for ovine/caprine semen for paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease) and has amended the wording to remove the need for testing for this disease, and has also amended the requirements to support certification in approved countries where Johne’s disease in not ‘officially’ reported.Australia will accept certification to the new conditions immediately, and will also continue to accept certification under the previous conditions for a transition period of six months from the date of this notification.NEW CONDTIONS:Johne’s diseaseMycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosisDonors have been kept in a flock/herd in which no case of paratuberculosis was diagnosed or officially reported during the two years immediately prior to collection.PREVIOUS CONDITIONS:Johne’s disease (M. paratuberculosis Donors either:gave a negative result to an absorbed ELISA or AGID for JD between 90 days before the first collection of semen and export; ORhas been kept in a herd in which no clinical sign of paratuberculosis was officially reported during the five years immediately prior to collection. [The veterinary certificate must indicate the option that applies. The attached table must include dates of sampling for test, type of tests used, test results.]

Australia is replacing the current Export Documentation System (EXDOC) with a system called the Next Export Documentation System (NEXDOC). NEXDOC is designed to make Australia’s export documentation system more secure and responsive to changes in trade conditions. Australia’s export documentation for wool, skins and hides will soon transition to the NEXDOC system. These goods are the next commodities to transition after dairy, which transitioned in 2021, honey and apiculture products in 2022, eggs in 2023 and fish and fish products in September 2024.  The planned changes do not affect the agreed conditions or attestations for market access, bilaterally agreed information about the consignment details, or the department’s regulatory controls over exports. However, there are minor changes to grammar, spelling, and the location of some of the information on the certificate. In addition, the new certificates will have unique Quick Response (QR) codes. The QR codes provide consignment specific information which border officials can use to confirm authenticity of the certificate in real-time. To verify the QR code, border officials scan the code through the official’s smart phone camera. Australia proposes the new export certificates be issued for: • Australian exports of wool, skins and hides.This will commence from 25 November 2024. There will be a transition period where both the old and new certificates will be in use to allow for transit time (air and sea freight) to the port of destination.

The draft report proposes that the importation of commercially produced fresh melon (Cucumis melo) fruit, except oriental melon (C. melo var. makuwa) and oriental pickling melon (C. melo var. utilissimus), to Australia from all commercial production areas of Japan be permitted, subject to a range of biosecurity requirements.The draft report contains details of pests that are of biosecurity concern to Australia that are potentially associated with the importation of commercially produced fresh melon fruit from Japan, the risk assessments for the identified pests, and the proposed risk management measures to reduce biosecurity risks to an acceptable level.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry conducted a technical assessment that determined the biosecurity risk associated with fresh Alyxia stellata foliage(maile) andfresh Pandanus spp. (pandanus) fruit segments used for ceremonial use could be appropriately managed from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, the United States of America (Hawaii only), Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna.As of 16 September 2024, fresh maile and fresh pandanus fruit segments were permitted import into Australia for ceremonial use from, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, the United State of America (Hawaii only), Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna under the following phytosanitary conditions.Treatment:Consignments of fresh maile and fresh pandanus fruit segments sent via airfreight or sea freight, must be treated prior to export with methyl bromide fumigation at 32g/m³ for two hours at 21°C and above. This pre-shipment treatment must be certified in the treatment section of the phytosanitary certificate;Alternatively, the goods can be treated on-arrival with methyl bromide fumigation at 32g/m³ for two hours at 21°C and above;Personal consignments, imported as passenger baggage (up to six small boxes) are permitted without treatment, however, will require phytosanitary inspection and certification.Inspection and certification:All consignments of fresh maile and fresh pandanus fruitsegments imported into Australia for ceremonial purposes will require phytosanitary inspection and a certificate. This is to provide assurances that pre-export processes are followed and the goods are free of pests and diseases.

Immediate suspension from 27 September 2024 of seed test results issued by any testing laboratory based in Türkiye, including Republic of Türkiye the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Antalya Directorate of Agricultural Quarantine for certification of seeds, fruit and spores of a kind used for sowing (HS 1209).

Australia is proposing new food safety import requirements for dates, enoki mushrooms, melons, pufferfish and kava.A consultation paper has been prepared to provide detail and invite comments on the proposed changes. Submissions can be prepared and lodged through the following link: https://haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/new-food-safety-requirementsThe proposed changes are: Fresh ready-to-eat dates – imports will need a valid mandatory food safety management certificate;Fresh enoki mushrooms – imports will be inspected and tested for Listeria monocytogenes. Detection of the pathogen in any sample will not be permitted;Whole or ready-to-eat cut (fresh or frozen) melons – imports will need a valid mandatory food safety management certificate. Imports of ready-to-eat cut melon will also be inspected and tested for Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp.;Pufferfish – imports will need a valid mandatory foreign government certificate;Kava - imports from New Zealand will be inspected.

The following errors and corrections for notification G/SPS/N/AUS/597 are outlined below.Item 5: contains the title of the notified document. It should read “Review of live marine ornamental fish import policy – draft report”.

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:Chloridazon, Fipronil, Florylpicoxamid and Isocycloseram in specified plant commodities;Fluralaner in specified animal commodities.

Australia has published import conditions for fresh passionfruit from Viet Nam, for human consumption. Australia and Viet Nam have agreed to the use of irradiation treatment as a pre-export phytosanitary measure to manage quarantine fruit flies, mealybugs, scale insects, and false spider mites to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia.

This Proposal seeks to amend Schedule 20 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to align maximum residue limits (MRLs) with: (a) the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority MRL Standard; (b) Codex Alimentarius Commission; and (c) other trading partner standards; relating to residues of agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals in food.This Proposal also includes corrections of typographical and formatting errors, necessary to improve the integrity of Schedule 20.For further information, please contact the MRL Team at FSANZ (MRL.contact@foodstandards.gov.auAgvet chemicals where increased or new MRLs are being considered for specified plant commodities: acibenzolar-S-methyl, aclonifen, afidopyropen, azoxystrobin, benzovindiflupyr, bifenthrin, broflanilide, buprofezin, chlorantraniliprole, chlormequat, cyflufenamid, cyflumetofen, cyhalofop-butyl, cyhalothrin, dichlorprop-P, difenoconazole, diflubenzuron, dimethoate, emamectin, etoxazole, famoxadone, fenazaquin, fenpicoxamid, flazasulfuron, florasulam, fluazaindolizine, fludioxonil, flupyradifurone, flutianil, flutolanil, flutriafol, fluxapyroxad, folpet, fosetyl-aluminium, glyphosate, indaziflam, indoxacarb, inpyrfluxam, mandipropamid, mefentrifluconazole, mesosulfuron-methyl, metaflumizone, metalaxyl, metamitron, metconazole, milbemectin, norflurazon, omethoate, oxathiapiprolin, pinoxaden, prohexadione-calcium, prosulfocarb, pydiflumetofen, pyraflufen-ethyl, pyridate, pyrimethanil, rimsulfuron, simazine, spiromesifen, sulfoxaflor, teflubenzuron, tetraniliprole, triflumuron, trinexapac-ethyl, valifenalate and zoxamide.Agvet chemicals where increased or new MRLs are being considered for specified animal commodities: afidopyropen, broflanilide, chlormequat, dimethoate, emamectin, fenazaquin, flazasulfuron, fluazaindolizine, fludioxonil, flutriafol, indoxacarb, inpyrfluxam, mefentrifluconazole, omethoate, spiromesifen, tetraniliprole, triflumuron.Agvet chemicals where deletions or reductions in MRLs are being proposed for specified plant commodities: azoxystrobin, boscalid, carbofuran, chlorfenapyr, diclofop-methyl, diflubenzuron, dimethoate, famoxadone, fenazaquin, fludioxonil, flumioxazin, fluxapyroxad, folpet, glyphosate, indoxacarb, mandipropamid, mefentrifluconazole, methidathion, piperonyl butoxide, pydiflumetofen, pyraclostrobin, pyrethrins, saflufenacil, tetraniliprole, triflumuronAgvet chemicals where deletions or reductions in MRLs are being proposed for specified animal commodities: fludioxonil and trichlorfon.New chemicals proposed for inclusion in schedule 20 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code are: 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene, flufenoxuron and fluindapyr. Agvet chemicals where consequential amendments were required to (a) add or remove exceptions for some commodities; (b) correct typographical errors; (c) convert a temporary MRL to a permanent MRL; (d) amend or update the commodity name; but there are no changes made to MRLs: amitrole, bixafen, boscalid, broflanilide, buprofezin, butroxydim, carbaryl, carbendazim, chlormequat, cyantraniliprole, 2,4-D, deltamethrin, dichlorvos, diclofop-methyl, difenoconazole, dimethoate, diuron, dodine, EPTC, etoxazole, fenvalerate, fipronil, fluazifop-p-butyl, fludioxonil, fluensulfone, flumioxazin, fluopyram, flupyradifurone, flutriafol, fluxapyroxad, glufosinate and glufosinate-ammonium, glyphosate, mandipropamid, mefentrifluconazole, metaldehyde, metazachlor, metconazole, omethoate, oxathiapiprolin, pendimethalin, phosphine, piperonyl butoxide, propaquizafop, pydiflumetofen, pyraclostrobin, pyrethrins, pyrimethanil, saflufenacil, simazine, triallate, trichlorfon and trifluralin.An agvet chemical where the residue definition is being updated: cyhalofop-butyl.Agvet chemicals where a new or amended All other foods except animal food commodities MRL is being proposed: broflanilide, chlormequat, flutriafol and inpyrfluxam.

Following the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s technical assessment of Salix spp. (willow) and its association with Phytophthora ramorum, fresh Salix spp. cuttings/foliage grown and exported from the United States of America (USA) will no longer be permitted import into Australian territory.The biosecurity risk of P. ramorum associated with Salix spp. imported as fresh cut foliage from the United States of America cannot be managed appropriately.Restricting import of Salix spp. fresh foliage to Israel, a low-risk P. ramorum country, is consistent with how the department manages other P. ramorum hosts. Considering import analytics, minimal impacts are expected to trade from the United States of America.

Certification:All consignments of willow and myrtle exported to Australia, will require a phytosanitary certificate, from 16 September 2024. This is to provide assurances of pre-export processes and management.Treatment:Consignments of fresh willow foliage, sent via airfreight or sea freight, must be treated prior to export with methyl bromide fumigation at 32g/m³ for 2 hours at 21 °C and above. This pre-shipment treatment must be certified in the treatment section of the phytosanitary certificate, from 16 September 2024.Personal consignments, imported as passenger baggage (up to six small boxes) are permitted without treatment, however, will still require phytosanitary certification. Considering import analytics, minimal impacts are expected to trade from Israel.

Australia has published import conditions for fresh table grapes from Japan, for human consumption. The final report for table grapes from Japan was published in 2014, however trade did not occur.

The cost recovery implementation statement (CRIS) provides information on how the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry implements cost recovery for biosecurity and imported food regulatory activities.As part of the Australian Government’s election commitment to sustainably fund the Commonwealth biosecurity system, announced in the 2023-24 Federal Budget, it was agreed that current industry biosecurity cost recovery arrangements would be extended to low value goods imported into Australian territory. These costs are currently being met by general taxpayers. Revenue raised from this new charge will flow directly to biosecurity.The volume and diversity of low value goods coming into Australia, via air or sea, and the underlying countries of origin, have been steadily increasing. This largely reflects the growing international e‑commerce market. In 2022-23, over 85 million items were brought in. However, as with other cargo and mail items, Australia is facing growing biosecurity risks on through pathway. Our biosecurity efforts, in partnership with industry, need to support efficient clearance of low-risk items while ensuring adequate protections against potential risks introduced by higher risk items.

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has released the draft report for the Review of live marine ornamental fish import policy for comment.The draft report assesses the risk of pathogenic agents associated with species on the department’s List of permitted live marine ornamental fish suitable for import found on our Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON).The draft report proposes that live marine ornamental fish, including fish sourced from captive bred populations, can be permitted import into Australia, provided they comply with a range of biosecurity measures, including pre- and post-arrival quarantine and sourcing from disease-free populations. These measures are supported by risk assessments, meet Australia's international rights and obligations, and are necessary to protect the health of Australian fish.The draft report will be accessible at https://haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au. Trading partners are invited to provide comments on the draft report until 28 October 2024 (60-day comment period).The department will carefully consider all comments while preparing the final report.

Australia is updating the certificate printing system for the current Export Documentation System (EXDOC) whereby trading partners may notice minor format changes to printed health certificates such as the placement and size of information fields and crest size. Importantly, these minor format changes do not affect the agreed conditions or attestations for market access, bilaterally agreed information about the consignment details, or the department’s regulatory controls over exports.EXDOC certificates for meat and meat products, processed foods and inedible animal by-products such as pet food, pharmaceuticals, rendered products, wool and skins and hides will be produced using the updated printing system commencing from 1 October 2024.There will be a transition period where both the old and new certificates will be in use to allow for transit time (air and sea freight) to the port of destination.These changes do not affect certificates for commodities that are issued throughAustralia’s new documentation system, the Next Export Documentation System (NEXDOC). This system generates certification for dairy, eggs, honey and honey bee products and from 30 September 2024, fish products, as previously notified in G/SPS/N/AUS/593, published on 2 August 2024.

This notice builds on G/SPS/N/AUS/479 relating to seasonal measures for Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), released in July 2019.In response to the spread of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) throughout Europe and North America, the Australian Government has strengthened seasonal measures for the 2024-25 season to manage the risk of BMSB arriving in Australia.Target risk countries have increased from 39 for the 2023-24 season to 41 for the 2024-25 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.Target risk countries for the 2024–25 season are:AlbaniaAndorraArmeniaAustriaAzerbaijanBelgiumBosnia and HerzegovinaBulgariaCanadaChina (measures applicable to vessels only)CroatiaCzech RepublicFranceGeorgiaGermanyGreeceHungaryItalyJapan (measures applicable to vessels only)KazakhstanKorea, Republic of (measures applicable to vessels only)KosovoLiechtensteinLuxembourgMontenegroMoldova, Republic ofNetherlandsNorth MacedoniaPolandPortugalRomaniaRussian FederationSerbiaSlovak RepublicSloveniaSwitzerlandSpainTürkiyeUkraineUnited States of AmericaUzbekistanAll 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 to 30 April (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 shipped on board from 1 September to 30 April (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, treatment options and rates, safeguarding arrangements and Industry Advice Notices are published on agriculture.gov.au/bmsbA 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 December 2019 and is available at:

This notification describes updates to Australian Phytosanitary Certificates. These changes ensure Australia is compliant and meets our international obligations under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 12. All phytosanitary certificates will include three new fields:Product PartProduct ConditionIntended Use The addition of these three new fields will change the appearance of our paper phytosanitary certificates and the location of some existing fields. These additional fields support the IPPC ePhyto Solution and the harmonisation of paper and electronic phytosanitary certificates.The updated certificates will be released during October 2024. Throughout this time, there will be a transition period where old and new certificates will be seen and accepted.