G/SPS/N/AUS/562  
14 March 2023  
(23-1852) 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):  Fresh blueberries and cranberries  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  New Zealand  
5. Title of the notified document:  New Zealand: Fresh blueberries and cranberries – 
Change to import conditions . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  1 
https://bicon.agriculture.gov.au/ViewElement/Element/WhatsChangedNotice?elementPk=2
058477  
6. Description of content:  Australia will no longer regulate for blueberry rust 
(Thekopsora  minima ) on fresh blueberries and cranberries grown in New Zealand and 
imported into Western Australia and Tasmania.  
The quarantine status of blueberry rust in Western Australia and Tasmania has changed 
and is no longer under official control. As a result, Australia has removed the conditions for 
fresh blueberries and cranberries grown in New Zealand imported into these states to be 
free from blueberry rust in alignment with the import conditions for all Austral ian states 
and territories, other than South Australia.  
Australia will continue to regulate for blueberry rust on fresh blueberries and cranberries 
grown in New Zealand imported into South Australia.  
Further details of the import conditions for fresh blueb erries and cranberries grown in 
New Zealand are available on the Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions website 
(BICON): https://bicon.agriculture.gov.au/  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] animal health, [X]  plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [X]  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) :  
[ ] 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 2 and 
ISPM 11  G/SPS/N/AUS/562  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] 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 March 2023  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 1 March 2023  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : 1 March 2023  
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  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  
Canberr a ACT 2601  
Australia  
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 Authority, [X]  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  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
Tel: +(61 2) 6272 3933  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  
Website: http://www.agriculture.gov.au