G/SPS/N/AUS/559  
 
13 January 2023  
(23-0350) 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 domestic dogs and cats and canine semen  
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 rabies virus risk in imported dogs, cats 
and canine semen from approved countries – Final report . Language(s):  English . 
Number of pages:  72 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/SPS/AUS/23_0400_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Australia released the Review of rabies virus risk in imported 
dogs, cats and canine semen from approved countries – Final report  on 12 January 2023. 
All comments on the draft report for this policy review were considered in the finalisation 
process.  
The n ew import conditions will be implemented from 1 March 2023. The Department of 
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry will contact all affected import permit holders to provide 
advice about how these changes affect their permits. Further details on the import 
conditions will be provided on the department's website at agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity -
trade/cats -dogs/step -by-step-guides  prior to implementation.  
Model cert ification including veterinary export health certificates have been provided which 
can be used to facilitate trade immediately after implementation. Australia would like to 
commence negotiation of specific veterinary health certificates with all approved c ountries 
by 1 September 2023.  
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.   
8. Is there a relevant internat ional standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Terrestrial Animal Health Code 
Chapters 2.1 and 8.14  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  G/SPS/N/AUS/559  
 
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  [ ] 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:  
The model certification has been provided  (available in English) : 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/SPS/AUS/23_0400_01_e.pdf  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 1 March 2023  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 12 January 2023  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : 1 March 2023  
[ ] 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  
Canberra 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]  Nation al 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