G/SPS/N/AUS/582  
13 March 2024  
(24-2263) 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:  Australian Government 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:  Import of live sturgeon for aquaculture – Biosecurity 
import risk analysis provisional report . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  408 
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity -trade/policy/risk -analysis/animal/live -
sturgeon -for-aquaculture  
6. Description of content:  The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries 
and Forestry has released the provisional report for the Biosecurity import risk analysis of 
live sturgeon for aquaculture (the sturgeon BIRA).  
The sturgeon BIRA assesses the biosecurity risks associated with the import of live 
sturgeon ( Acipenser and Huso species) from all countries for aquaculture.  
The provisional BIRA report proposes that Acipenser and Huso species be permitted import 
into Australia, provided they comply with appropriate bios ecurity measures. 
These  measures include sourcing from disease -free stocks, pre -export and post -arrival 
quarantine, parasite treatment, egg disinfection and testing for disease agents.  
The provisional BIRA report can be accessed at  
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity -trade/policy/risk -analysis/animal/live -
sturgeon -for-aquaculture . 
As per the Biosecurity Regulation 2016 , release of the provisional report initiates 
a 30-calendar day Inspector General of Biosecurity (IGB) referral period. If referred, 
the IGB will only review the process used to conduct the sturgeon BIRA, not the science 
within the r eport. This referral period will close on 11:59 pm, Australian Eastern Standard 
Time (AEST), 11 April 2024. If there is no referral or the IGB decides that a review is not 
appropriate, the provisional report will be published as the final BIRA report as so on as 
practical.  
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.   G/SPS/N/AUS/582  
 
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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 t he 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : Late 2024.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 12 March 2024  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : Late 2024.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 11 April 2024  
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@aff.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@aff.gov.au  
Website: http://www.agriculture.gov.au