G/SPS/N/AUS/341/Add.1  
 
10 August 2015  
(15-4107)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
Addendum 
The following communication, received on 10 August 2015, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Australia. 
 
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 Examination of the Import Risk Analysis (IRA) process report 
The Australian Government has released its report on the examination of Australia's IRA process. 
The examination focused on: transparency and cons ultation during the IRA process; the use of 
internal and external scientific expertise during the IRA process; and consideration of regional 
differences in animal or plant health status during the IRA process. The report summarises 
stakeholder views, comments, ideas and the findings  of the examination of Australia's IRA process. 
Ten (10) recommended actions to address the find ings in the report have also been released. 
No further changes are suggested to the biosecurit y import risk analysis (BIRA) process under the 
Biosecurity Act 2015, but wording in the Act has been amended to strengthen consideration of 
regional differences during BIRAs. Any further changes to the BIRA process will be considered and implemented in regulations and policy, if required . Australia will notify any further changes to the 
WTO and trading partners will have the opportunity to provide comments. 
Trading partners are encouraged to read the report available on the Department of Agriculture 
website at http://www.agriculture.gov.au/iraexamination . 
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: Release of the report on the Examination of Australia's Import Risk Analysis 
process and recommended actions. 
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) : Not applicable G/SPS/N/AUS/341/Add.1 
 
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  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 
Submissions or specific comments about the discussion paper may be sent to: 
Sustainability and Biosecurity Policy Division 
Biosecurity Policy and Response Branch 
Department of Agriculture GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601  
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 
Website: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/iraexamination   
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