G/SPS/N/AUS/566  
22 June 2023  
(23-4282) 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:  Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry  
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):  Live horses  
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:  Review of the risk of Japanese encephalitis in horses 
from approved countries – Draft report . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  33 
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity -trade/policy/risk -analysis/animal/horses  
6. Description of content:  The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries 
and Forestry has undertaken a review of the biosecurity risk associated with Japanese 
encephalitis in horses. The draft review has now been finalised and the department invites 
trading partners and stakeholde rs to comment on the draft review by 21 August 2023. 
Trade may continue for countries approved for the export of horses to Australia.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plan t 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) : Terrestrial Animal Health Code, 
Chapter  8.10 
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [X] No  
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  The review proposes removing biosecurity conditions for 
Japanese encephalitis in horse s imported to Australia from approved countries. This 
proposal is based on Japanese encephalitis being present in Australia and horses being 
identified as dead -end hosts. This deviates from WOAH Code which recommends insect -
proof quarantine prior to export  and vaccination.  G/SPS/N/AUS/566  
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 20 June 2023  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 21 August 2023  
Agency or authority de signated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry  
GPO Box 858  
Tel: +(61 2) 6272 3933  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  
Website: http://www.agriculture.gov.au  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification A uthority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry  
GPO Box 858  
Tel: +(61 2) 6272 3933  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  
Website: http://www.agriculture.gov.au