. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/AUS/131
25 July 2001
(01-3692)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  AUSTRALIA
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA)
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable). All beef and beef-based products, defined as tissue from cattle, buffalo and
bison, but excluding:
(a) collagen from bovine skins and hides (including sausage casings produced from
this type of collagen);
(b) bovine fats and bovine tallow;
(c) gelatine sourced from bovines;
(d) milk and other dairy products sourced from bovines.
Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All
countries
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:
(a) Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE): human health requirements for the
importation of beef and beef products (certification requirements);
(b) Imports of beef and beef products – implications for human health and rationale for
Australia’s policy;
(c) Australian questionnaire to assess BSE country freedom.
Documents available at www.anzfa.gov.au.
5. Description of content:  A new national food standard within the Australia New Zealand
Food Standards Code has been agreed to by Australia’s Food Standards Council to replace
the interim measure announced by Australia on 5 January 2001 (G/SPS/N/AUS/125).  The
Standard, which was developed to meet Austra lia’s appropriate level of protection, only
applies to Australia and requires that beef and beef products sold in Australia be sourcedfrom cattle herds which are free from BSE.  A system for the certification of countries
intending to export beef and beef products to Australia will be implemented to ensure that
all countries comply with the BSE Standard.  Countries wishing to export beef and beef
products to Australia will need to undergo classification by ANZFA with regard to their
BSE-risk status. Countries will need to make a formal application to ANZFA for BSE riskclassification through completion of a detailed questionnaire. Exporting countries will be
classified into one of four BSE-risk categories: Categories A, B, C and D (see
accompanying documents for an explanation of categories).  The stringency of the
certification requirements for a country will be commensurate with the BSE-risk status of a
country as determined by ANZFA, including by reference to relevant internationalstandards and risk assessments undertaken by other countries.G/SPS/N/AUS/131
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6. Objective and rationale:  [  X ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
7. Nature of the urgent problem(s):  Potential presence of BSE in beef and beef products
sold in Australia and consequent risk of contracting vCJD.
8. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give its appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:           
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Subclause 7(2) and
7(3) in Standard C1 in Volume 1 and clause 11(1) and 11(2) in Standard 2.2.1 in Volume 2
of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
Available in English at www.anzfa.gov.au
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):
1. Application by countries for BSE categorisation required by 15 September;
2. Certification in force from 16 September.
11. Texts available from/and agency or authority designated to handle comments:
[ X ] National notification authority, [     ] National enquiry point or address, fax
number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: