G/SPS/N/AUS/569  
11 July 2023  
(23-4682) 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 sturgeon  
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:  Biosecurity import risk analysis of live sturgeon for 
aquaculture (the sturgeon BIRA) - Draft report . Language(s):  English . Number of 
pages:  393 
https://haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/live -sturgeon -aquaculture  
6. Description of content:  The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries 
and Forestry has released the draft report for the Biosecurity import risk analysis of live 
sturgeon for aquaculture (the sturgeon BIRA) for comment.  
The sturgeon BIRA assesses the biosecurity risks associated with the import of live 
sturgeon (Acipenser and Huso species) from all countries for aquaculture.  
The draft BIRA report proposes that Acipenser and Huso species be permitted import into 
Australia, provided they comply with appropriate bios ecurity. These measures include 
sourcing from disease -free stocks, pre -export and post -arrival quarantine, parasite 
treatment, egg disinfection and testing for disease agents.  
Trading partners are invited to provide comments on the draft BIRA report until 
11 September 2023 (60 -day comment period).  
The department will carefully consider all comments while preparing the provisional BIRA 
report.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from anima l/plant 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) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  G/SPS/N/AUS/569  
 
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  [X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant internationa l standard?  
[ ] 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) : Late 2025.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 11 July 2023  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : Late 2025.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 9 September 2023  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax nu mber 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 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