Biosecurity (Suspended Goods - Uncooked Prawns) Amendment (Exceptions) Determination (No. 3) 2017

On 6 January 2017, Australia suspended the importation of uncooked prawns (including prawn meat) under the Biosecurity (Suspended Goods - Uncooked Prawns) Determination 2017 (the Determination). This was due to an unacceptable level of biosecurity risk posed by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV).Australia amended the Determination on 10 February 2017 and on 27 February 2017, exempting a number of prawns and prawn products which, following review, were deemed to present a low risk of introducing prawn diseases into Australia. Some goods exempted include dried prawn and shelf-stable prawn-based food products (G/SPS/N/AUS/412/Add.1), irradiated bait for aquatic use, pet fish food and aquaculture feed (G/SPS/N/AUS/412/Add.1), uncooked prawns sourced from Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (G/SPS/N/AUS/412/Add.1), prawns and prawn meat from Australia’s External Territories (G/SPS/N/AUS/412/Add.2), and uncooked Australian wild-caught prawns exported to Thailand for processing in a facility approved by Thailand's Department of Fisheries (DoF), and re-exported to Australia (G/SPS/N/AUS/412/Add.2).On 3 April 2017, Australia issued a third amendment to the scope of the Determination to exempt uncooked Australian wild-caught prawns exported to all other countries for processing, and re-exported to Australia.Interim revised import conditions to facilitate the resumption of trade in these products are being developed. Further information regarding these revised import conditions will be provided to trading partners through a subsequent World Trade Organization notification. Trade in these products can only resume once interim import conditions have been implemented.This most recent amendment to the Determination can be found at:https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2017L00381