G/SPS/N/AUS/497  
 
7 April 2020  
(20-2770) 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, 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):  Horticultural fresh produce, cut flowers, plants and other plant based 
commodities. These are goods lodged under Schedule 3, Sections 2 a nd 9 of Australia's 
tariff system.  
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:  Temporary changes to certification requirements for 
imported fresh produce, cut flowers, plants and other plant based commodities . 
Language(s):  ENglish . Number of pages:  2 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/AUS/20_2469_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Describes alternative arrangements to the use of original paper 
phytosanitary certificates due the impacts of COVID -19 on airfreight and courier mail.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] animal health, [X]  plant protection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  The objective of this policy is to promote safe trade under 
the impacts of COVID -19. 
The COVID -19 pandemic is impacting the movement of airfreight and courier mail in 
multiple countries. This has led some exporting country NPPOs to advise Australia that 
they are unable to provide original paper -based phytosanitary certificates with import 
consignments of a range of imported fresh produce, cut flowers, plants, plant products, 
and other regulated articles, as per our requirements.  
This temporary arrangement will be in place until 1 July 2020. Stakeholders will be notified 
of any extension to this arrangement closer to this date.  
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Comm ission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) : 
ISPM 07, ISPM 12, ISPM 20 and ISPM 23.  
[ ] None  G/SPS/N/AUS/497  
 
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  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:  While international  standards require exporting countries to 
issue original phytosanitary certificates it is up to importing countries how they processed. 
Australia's interim arrangements require the exporting country to provide a mechanism 
to verify copies if required by ou r inspecting officers.  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Industry 
Advice Notice 50 -2020 (Attachment 1)   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 10 April 2020  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 10 April 2020  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 6 April 2020  
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of oth er body:   
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.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  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au