G/SPS/N/AUS/509  
 
3 November 2020  
(20-7754) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  AUSTRALIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the 
Environment  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Non vi able, non -salmonid marine finfish for human consumption and 
for use as bait.  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Biosecurity Advice 2020 -A07 Draft update of non -
salmonid marine finfish risk species lists for human consumption and baitfish. . 
Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  27 
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk -analysis/memos  
6. Description of content:  
As set out in the Biosecurity Advice ( https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk -
analysis/memos ) stakeholders are asked to comment on the draft update of the non -
salmonid marine finfish risk species lists for hum an consumption and baitfish (risk species 
lists).  
These lists of finfish susceptible to pathogens of concern arose from the "Import Risk 
Analysis on Non -viable Salmonids and Non -salmonid Marine finfish"  (1999 non -viable 
marine finfish IRA) and can be found on the Department of Agriculture, Water and the 
Environment's Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON).  
The Departme nt of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the department) has also 
developed a procedure (the procedure) outlining how decisions were made to recognise 
a species of finfish as susceptible to infection with a pathogen of concern.  
The department has rele ased both the procedure, and the outcomes of the review for a 
90 day consultation period.  
This review was initiated to ensure that the risk lists are up to date to ensure they are 
effective at managing biosecurity risk and promote safe trade. Specifically,  the review 
aimed to ensure that the risk species lists accounted for new information about species 
susceptibility since the risk lists were published in 1999.  
The department proposes that finfish species identified in the review as susceptible to 
infectio n with a disease of concern to Australia, continue to be permitted import into 
Australia, subject to compliance with the risk management approaches set out in the 1999 
non-viable marine finfish IRA and specified in BICON.  G/SPS/N/AUS/509  
 
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  Stakeholders are invited to provid e comments on the outcomes of the review, and the 
procedure by 29 January 2020.  
The department will carefully consider all submissions before preparing the final report.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection,  
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Aquatic Animal Health Code, Chapter 
1.5 and Manual of Diagnostic Tests of Aquatic Animals, Section 2.3.  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 1 June 2021  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 1 March 2021  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 1 June 2021  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Ninety days from the date of circulation of the 
notification.  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment at 
aquaticbiosecurity@agriculture.gov  au or through https://haveyoursay.awe.gov.au/ . 
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601, Australia  
Email: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au