G/SPS/N/AUS/460  
 
24 October 2018  
(18-6682) Page: 1/3 
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 and Water Resources  
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): Biosecurity requirements for post -entry processing of salmonid 
products sourced from a pproved countries  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Philippines, 
Poland, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, U nited States of America  
5. Title of the notified document: Biosecurity Advice 2018/26 - Proposed changes to 
existing certification and post -entry processing requirements for salmonid products 
sourced from approved countries (excluding New Zealand) - Request for stakeholder 
comment . Language(s): English.  Number of pages: 8 
6. Description of content: As set out in Biosecurity Advice 2018/26 
(http://agriculture.gov.au/bi osecurity/risk -analysis/memos/ba2018 -26), stakeholders 
are invited to comment on proposed revised import conditions for salmonid products from 
approved countries (excluding New Zealand). These have been developed following a 
review undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (the 
department).  
To manage the biosecurity risks associated with wastes generated in the post -border 
processing of imported salmonid products, salmonid products imported into Australia 
must be in a consumer re ady form (at least de -headed, de -gilled and eviscerated) or must 
be sent to an establishment for further processing into a consumer ready form prior to 
release.  
The Import Risk Analysis on Non -viable Salmonids and Non -salmonid Marine Finfish 1999  
(IRA) rec ommended that all onshore processing of salmonid products exceeding 
300kg/day be undertaken at a quarantine approved premise (now an Approved 
Arrangement) or if processing less than 300kg/day, subject to a compliance agreement 
with the department.  
There ar e currently no Approved Arrangements (AA) or compliance agreements for 
establishments wishing to process imported salmonid products. To ensure the post arrival 
processing of salmonid products in Australia will be managed as recommended by the 
1999 IRA, sim plified conditions are proposed.  
The proposed conditions require that all salmonid products imported in a form that 
requires further processing in Australia to remain under biosecurity control at an 
establishment that has entered into an approved arrangeme nt with the department. 
Salmonid product subject to this requirement will only be released from biosecurity control G/SPS/N/AUS/460  
 
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  after it has been transformed into a consumer ready form. Salmonid products that are 
imported in a consumer ready form will not be subject t o these conditions.  
These changes consolidate certification requirements for all approved countries reducing 
confusion and unnecessary delays at the border and provides for biosecure post arrival 
processing arrangements that previously did not exist. Becau se the thermal treatment is 
deemed to manage the risks from diseases identified in the 1999 IRA, certification of the 
animal health and surveillance requirements is not required. Non -approved countries may 
also seek recognition for thermally treated produc t after satisfying the department of its 
capacity to meet the requirements above on a case by case basis.  
The department invites stakeholders to provide comment on the proposed biosecurity 
requirements for post -entry processing of salmonid products sourced  from approved 
countries (excluding New Zealand).  
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) :  
[ ] 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) : 1 March 2019 (following consideration of 
stakeholder comments).  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy ): 10 October 2018  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 1 March 2019 (following consideration of stakeholder comments).  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 12 December 2018  
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:  
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  G/SPS/N/AUS/460  
 
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  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:   
Texts are available at the following web address, or alternatively, from the Australian SPS 
Notification Point:  http://agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk -analysis/memos/ba2018 -26 
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au