G/SPS/N/AUS/363/Add.7  
 
17 May 2016  
(16-2690)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
Addendum 
The following communication, received on 17 May 2016,  is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Australia. 
 
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 Australia's new biosecurity legislation: commences 16 June 2016 
The Australian Government, through the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, is 
reminding industry stakeholders and clients that the Biosecurity Act 2015 will commence in one 
month, on 16 June 2016. 
The new legislation was developed in consultation with a range of stakeholders including industry, 
state and territory governments, health professionals, environmental groups, trading partners and 
the general public. 
The final package of regulations consists of: 
 The Biosecurity Regulation 2016; 
 The Biosecurity Charges Imposition (General) Regulation 2016; 
 The Biosecurity Charges Imposition (Customs) Regulation 2016; 
 The Biosecurity (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Regulation 2016; and 
 The Quarantine Repeal Proclamation 2016. 
You can view the regulations on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (formerly 
ComLaw) website at https://www.legislation.gov.au/S earch/biosecurity%20regulation . 
Importers, brokers, port operators and those invo lved in transport or supply chain logistics are 
advised to make sure they understand the legislation including changes that may affect their 
industry after commencement on 16 June 2016. 
Consultation on the following draft Determinations closes 17 May 2016: 
 Biosecurity (Prohibited and Conditionally Non-prohibited Goods) Determination 2016; and 
 Biosecurity (Reportable Biosecurity Incidents) Determination 2016. 
Other legislative instruments (declarations and determinations made by the Director of 
Biosecurity) will be made available on the department's website shortly. 
In some key areas, the legislation makes provision for a transition period to allow businesses time 
to become compliant with new requirements. 
For more information on transitional arrangements in the Biosecurity Act access the Biosecurity 
(Consequential Amendments and Tr ansitional Provisions) Act 2015 at 
https://www.legislation.go v.au/Details/C2015A00062 . 
For more information including an interactive eLearning tool for industry on the new legislation, 
visit http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/l egislation/new-biose curity-legislation . G/SPS/N/AUS/363/Add.7 
 
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  For more information, or to make a submission, please visit: 
http://www.agriculture.gov.au /biosecuritylegislation  or contact the Biosecurity Implementation 
Branch at newbiosecuritylegislation@agriculture.gov.au. 
This addendum concerns a: 
[ ] Modification of final date for comments 
[ ] Notification of adoption, publication or entry into force of regulation 
[ ] Modification of content and/or scope of  previously notified draft regulation 
[ ] Withdrawal of proposed regulation 
[ ] Change in proposed date of adoption, publication or date of entry into force 
[X] Other: New draft biosecurity regulations out for consultation. 
Comment period: (If the addendum extends the scope of the previously notified 
measure in terms of products and/or potent ially affected Members, a new deadline for 
receipt of comments should be provided, norm ally of at least 60 calendar days. Under 
other circumstances, such as extension of or iginally announced final date for comments, 
the comment period provided in the addendum may vary.)  
[ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the addendum to the notification and/or 
(dd/mm/yy) : 17 May 2016 
Agency or authority designated to handle co mments: [X] National Notification Authority, 
[X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of 
other body: 
The Australian SPS Notification Point 
GPO Box 858 
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia 
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678 
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  
Specific enquires about the new legislation and implementation process may be sent to: 
Biosecurity Legislation Implementation Support Office Biosecurity Policy and Implementation Division Department of Agriculture and Water Resources 
GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601 
E-mail: newbiosecuritylegislation@agriculture.gov.au  
Text(s) available from: [X] National Notificati on Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. 
Address, fax number and e-mail addre ss (if available) of other body: 
The Australian SPS Notification Point 
GPO Box 858 
Canberra ACT 2601 
Australia Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678 E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  
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