G/SPS/N/AUS/397  
 
2 September 2016  
(16-4667) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosan itary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member: AUSTRALIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible: Australian Government 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): Frozen canine semen from New Zealand and other 
approved countries  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document: BICON Veterinary Health Certification Requirements 
for Frozen Canine Semen . Language(s): English . Number of pages: 4 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/AUS/16_3682_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: The requirement for an import permit will be removed but the 
goods will still have  to meet Australia's import conditions to manage biosecurity risks 
associated with the goods which  are described in Attachment 1.  
The BICON import conditions for frozen canine semen will require the consignment to be 
accompanied by a veterinary certificate  issued by the Government Authority in the 
approved export country. This veterinary certification will need to certify to the import 
conditions described in the attached document.  
These import conditions are for frozen canine semen from New Zealand and a s eparate 
set of import conditions for other approved countries.  
It is expected these changes will take effect later this year or early next year. The 
import conditions for frozen canine semen and all other commodities will continue to be 
available through t he Department's Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) at: 
https://bicon.agriculture.gov.au/biconweb4.0 . 
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 Co dex 
standard or related text) :   
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :   G/SPS/N/AUS/397  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :   
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation c onform 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 da te of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be confirmed.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be confirmed.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ]  Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : To be confirmed.  
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 1 November 2016  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax nu mber 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  
13. Text(s)  available from: [ ]  National Notification Auth ority, [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