. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/AUS/301 
27 July 2012  
 (12-4170) 
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 (DAFF) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Dogs and cats (including dog and cat semen) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Countries approved to export dogs and cats 
 (including dog and cat semen) to Australia.  
5. Title of the notified document:  Draft review of the importation of dogs and cats and their 
semen from approved countries   Language(s):  English  Number of pages:  237 
 http://www.daff.gov.au/ba/memos  
6. Description of content:  A review of the biosecurity risk s associated with the importation 
of dogs and cats and their semen.  
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 stan dard?  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)   
 OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2011 Section 8 (Multiple Species) , 
Chapter 8.10 Rabies  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[ ] None G/SPS/N/AUS/301 
Page 2  
 
  Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
 [ ] Yes   [X] No 
 If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  A mandatory requirement for rabi es vaccination of imported dogs 
and cats from most approved countries, including  those that have ra bies free status, is 
proposed.  The Terrestrial Code Chapter 8.10 includes provisions for recognition of country 
freedom from rabies. The international moveme nt of rabies-vaccinated has been increasing 
between countries where rabies is controlled or absent.  This movement is primarily for 
private purposes and not commercial trade. The proposed mandatory measure for rabies vaccination is considered to be trade facilitato ry, as Australia will continue to import dogs 
and cats from an approved country, even if a count ry's rabies status ch anges.  The review 
recommends continued biosecurity measures for a number of diseases that are not listed in 
the Terrestrial Code (e.g. canine piroplasmosis, canine ehrlichiosis).  
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:  Nil   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  To be determined following consultation. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  26 July 2012 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  To be determined fo llowing consultation. 
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  24 September 2012 
Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:    
13. Texts available from:  [ ] National Notification  Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
Texts are available at the following web addr ess, or alternatively, from the Australian SPS 
Notification Point:  http://www.daff.gov.au/ba/memos  
The Australian SPS Notification Point 
GPO Box 858 Canberra  ACT  2601 Australia 
Fax:  +(61 2) 6272 3678 
Email:  sps.contact@daff.gov.au