Raw milk cheese: eligibility of countries to export to Australia

Australia is conducting science-based reviews on the risks associated with certain imported foods. As each review is completed, they are published on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website.
In response to the risk assessments on cheese, Australia recently amended its food safety legislation, the Imported Food Control Order 2001 related to the classification of cheese as a risk food. These changes are summarised as follows:
1. Cheese previously described as "soft, semi-soft and fresh cheese", will be described as "Cheese in which growth of Listeria monocytogenes can occur". Cheese with characteristics known to support the growth of this pathogen is classified as risk food and will be analysed for Listeria monocytogenes. Analysis for E. coli and Salmonella will no longer be conducted. More information is published on the following webpage Cheese in which growth of Listeria monocytogenes can occur.
2. Raw milk cheese is classified as a risk food and imports will be permitted under certain conditions. Countries wanting to export raw milk cheese to Australia can apply for assessment of whether their country's raw milk cheese production system is equivalent to the system in Australia. A government certification arrangement will be established to facilitate trade if the country meets Australia's biosecurity requirements, and demonstrates equivalence and compliance with applicable standards.
Raw milk cheese must comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code Standard 4.2.4 Primary production and processing standard for dairy products. When this standard was developed, Food Standards Australia New Zealand notified in July 2014 in G/SPS/N/AUS/343 and August 2014 in G/SPS/N/AUS/343/Add.1. These notified of updates to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code Standard 4.2.4 Primary production and processing standard for dairy products to include the safe production of raw milk cheese. Australia accepted comments on the scientific justification of these amendments at that time, so Australia is not inviting comment a second time.
Information on the eligibility of trading partners to export raw milk cheese to Australia is available at the following webpage Raw milk cheese: eligibility of countries to export to Australia.