G/SPS/N/AUS/506  
 
28 September 2020  
(20-6545) 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):  Cooked  and uncooked prawns for human consumption  
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 biosecurity risks of prawns imported from 
all countries for human consumption - draft report . Language(s):  English . 
Number  of pages:  346 
6. Description of content:  The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water 
and the Environment has released the Review of the biosecurity risks of prawns imported 
from all countries for human consumption - draft report (the review) for a 110 day 
consultation period.  
The review was undertaken in response to the white spot disease outbreak that occurred 
in south -east Queensland in 2016 -17, and in recognition of new and emerging diseases 
and advances in scientific knowledge since the release of the Generic import risk an alysis 
report for prawns and prawn products 2009. The review has taken into account current 
scientific information, international standards developed by the World Organisation for 
Animal Health, policies adopted by other countries for the importation of pr awns, advice 
from international scientific experts, submissions received from stakeholders, relevant 
industry practices and operational practicalities.  
The review identified 10 hazards of biosecurity concern for imported prawns. 
We undertook risk assessmen ts for each and proposed measures to manage the 
biosecurity risks.  
The draft report proposes that prawns continue to be permitted import into Australia, 
subject to compliance with a range of biosecurity measures.  
The draft report can be accessed at https://haveyoursay.awe.gov.au/review -of-the-
biosecurity -risks-of-imported -prawns . Stakeholders are invited to provide comments on 
the draft report by 15 January 202 1. 
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.   G/SPS/N/AUS/506  
 
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  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) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international st andard?  
[ ] 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) : Mid-2021 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 28 September 2020  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : Mid-2021 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the da te of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 15 January 2021  
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 :  
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601, Australia  
Email: sps.contact@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@awe.gov.au