G/SPS/N/AUS/494  
 
5 February 2020  
(20-0874) 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 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  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trad ing partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:  
5. Title of the notified document:  Dog and Cat Imports: dates of validity for rabies testing 
results  Language(s):  English  Number of pages:  1 
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk -analysis/memos  
6. Description of content:  The Department of Agriculture has aligned requirements that 
cover the date of validity of acceptable rabies neutralising antibody titres (RNAT) for dogs 
and cats for export to Australia.  
For permit applications received on and after 20 January 2020, acceptable RNATs will be 
dated from arrival of the sample at the testing laboratory.  The minimum 180 days 
pre-export period spent outside Australia where an RNAT is required will now commence 
on that same date.  
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 international 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) : Chapter 8.14 of the OIE Code  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to t he relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   G/SPS/N/AUS/494  
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 20 January 2020  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 24 January 2020  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 20 January 2020  
[ ] 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 Enqu iry 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  
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