G/SPS/N/AUS/495/Add.1  
 
13 May 2020  
(20-3570) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
Addendum  
The following communication, received on 12 May 2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Australia . 
 
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Biosecurity Advice 2020 -A02: Proposed interim import conditions for uncooked prawns for human 
consumption  
As set out in Animal Biosecurity Advice 2020 -A03 published on the department's website on 
14 May 2020 at : https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk -analysis/memos . 
The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has determined 
that interim import conditions for uncooked prawns imported into Australia are required to manage 
the risks associated with infection by Enterocytozoo n hepatopenaei (EHP). Australia's current import 
conditions for uncooked prawns (including freezing and head and shell removal) do not manage 
biosecurity risk for EHP to a level that meets Australia's appropriate level of protection. Deveining is 
considere d the most effective and practically implementable interim measure for reducing the load of 
viable EHP spores in infected prawns.  
In response to the release of Animal Biosecurity Advice 2020 -A02 "Proposed interim import conditions 
for uncooked prawns and p rawn products imported for human consumption into Australia ", the 
department received comments from 7 stakeholders during the 60 -day comment period. These 
comments were considered when finalising the interim uncooked prawn import conditions.  
Uncooked prawn s arriving in Australia on or after 1 July 2020 must be certified by the competent 
authority to have undergone a deveining step during processing. Uncooked prawns will continue to 
be subject to 100 per cent seals intact inspection on -arrival in Australia.  
If uncooked prawns do not meet the new interim import conditions they will be directed for re -export, 
disposal or treatment (e.g. cooking).  
The import conditions for uncooked prawns will remain "interim " while Australia finalises the  Review 
of the biosecur ity risks of prawns imported into Australia for human consumption  as announced by 
Australia's Director of Biosecurity on 16  May 2017 (Biosecurity Advice 2017/07; G/SPS/N/AUS/422). 
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment anticipates the dra ft report will be 
available for comment in mid -2020.  
Australia's updated model health certificate for prawns and prawn meat for human consumption is 
attached, which includes the additional attestation at Point 7.1 (2) for competent authorities to certify 
that uncooked prawns have been deveined. Wording has not changed since the release of the previous 
SPS notice proposing these changes (G/SPS/N/AUS/495).  
Trading partners are encouraged to implement the required certification changes and finalise changes 
with the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment in a timely 
manner to prevent disruptions to trade from 1 July 2020.  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/AUS/20_3171_00_e.pdf  G/SPS/N/AUS/495/Add.1  
 
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  This addendum concerns a:  
[ ] Modification of final date for comments  
[X] Notification of  adoption, publication or entry into force of regulation  
[ ] Modification of content and/or scope of previously notified draft regulation  
[ ] Withdrawal of proposed regulation  
[ ] Change in proposed date of adoption, publication or date of entry into fo rce 
[ ] Other:  
Comment period: (If the addendum extends the scope of the previously notified measure 
in terms of products and/or potentially affected Members, a new deadline for receipt of 
comments should be provided, normally of at least 60 calendar days. Under other 
circumstances, such as extension of originally announced final date for comments, the 
comment period provided in the addendum may vary.)  
[ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the addendum to the notification and/or 
(dd/mm/yy) :  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification Authority, 
[X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other 
body:  
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canber ra ACT 2601; Australia  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au   
Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X] 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   
 
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