G/SPS/N/AUS/521  
 
4 May 2021  
(21-3766) 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, 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):  Live domestic dogs of the species Canis familiaris and live domestic 
cats of the species Felis catus  
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:  Rabies neutralising antibody titre test declaration . 
Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  4 
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/cats -dogs/rabies -neutralising -antibody  
6. Description of content:  The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water 
and the Environment (the department) has updated the rabies neutralising antibody titre 
test (RNATT) declaration form. The new form has been approved under Section 177 of 
the Biosecurity Act 2015  (the Act) and is required to be submitted with an import permit 
application for live cats and dogs exported from group 3 countries and non -approved via 
group 2 or 3 countries. The new form can be found on the department's website . This is 
a minor update to clarify some sections and instructions for Official Government 
Veterinarians completing the form. This minor update is expected to improve efficiencies 
and reduce incide nces of follow -up, which may delay import permit application 
assessments.  
From 1 June 2021, the department will only accept declarations made on the new version 
of the form for applications to import cats and dogs from group 3 countries or non -
approved via  group 2 or 3 countries. The department will accept declarations on both the 
new and previous version of the form for applications submitted before 1 June 2021.  
If you have any questions, please contact the Zoo, Aquatic, Laboratory and Companion 
Animal Tea m within the department via email at imports@awe.gov.au or via phone on 
1800 900 090 (within Australia) or 61 3 8318 6700 (outside Australia).  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from an imal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   G/SPS/N/AUS/521  
 
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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 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) : 26 March 2021  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 26 March 2021  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 1 June 2021  
[ ] 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 num ber 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  
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:   
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au