G/SPS/N/AUS/412  
 
10 January 2017  
(17-0165) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMER GENCY MEASURES  
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 ite m number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Uncooked prawns including:  
i. uncooked prawns or prawn meat  
ii. uncooked prawns coated for human consumption by being mari nated i n a wet 
marinade  
iii. uncooked prawns coated for human consumption by be ing marinated in a dry 
marinade  
iv. uncooked prawns coated for human consumption by being marinated and placed on 
skewers  
HS codes that may be impacted include: 0306.16, 0306.17, 0306.19, 0306. 35, 0306.36, 
0306.39, 0306.95, 0306.99, 1605.21, 1605.29 (previous HS2012 codes include 
0306.26, 0306.27, 0306.29).  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners  All countries other than Ne w Caledonia  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document : Biosecurity (Suspended Goods - Uncooked Prawns) 
Determination 2017 . Language (s): English . Number of pages:  4 
6. Description of content: As set out in the determination 
http://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2017L00034 , the Director of Biosecurity has 
suspended imports of uncooked prawns from all countries other than New Caledonia due 
to unacceptable biosecuri ty risk for a period of six months. The unacceptable biosecurity 
risk relates to the risk of uncooked prawn product carrying white spot syndrome virus 
(WSSV).  
7. Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection,  
[ ] protec t humans fro m animal/plant pest or disease, [ ]  protect territory from 
other damage from pest s.   
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action: To address 
biosecurity risks associated with imported uncooked prawns. Except for the curren t 
outbreak, WSSV is exotic to Australia. All prawn species imported into Australia are 
susceptible to WSSV. Therefore there is a high likelihood that WSSV could enter 
Australian territory with imported uncooked prawns. A suspension period of six months 
is necessary to analyse the information arising from inspections and investigations and 
to review import conditions.  G/SPS/N/AUS/412  
 
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  9. 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) :   
[ ] Internation al Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :   
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulat ion conform to the re levant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [ ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard :   
10. Other r elevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:      
11. Date of  entry into force  (dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
9 January 2017 /For a period of six months  
[ ] Trade facilit ating  measure    
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments : [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [ ] 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  
13. Text(s)  available from:  [X] National Notification Authority, [  ] 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.conta ct@agriculture.gov.au  
Text also available from http://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2017L00034 .