G/SPS/N/AUS/412/Add.7  
 
29 June 2017  
(17-3513) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMER GENCY MEASURES  
Addendum  
The following communication, received on 29 June 2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Australia . 
 
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Biosecurity (Suspended Goods - Uncooked Prawns) Determination 2017 – ongoing import 
conditions  
On 10 January 2017, Australia notified that the importation of uncooked prawns (including prawn 
meat) had been suspended under the Biosecurity (Suspended Goods - Uncooked Prawns) 
Determination 2017 (the suspension) for a period of six months. This was due to an unacceptable 
level of biosecurity risk posed by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV).  
It is intended that import conditions will be put in place to facilitate safe trade in prawns when the 
suspension lapses on 6 July 2017. These import conditions will remain in place while Australia 
undertakes the review of Australia's import conditions for prawns and prawn products, announced 
by Australia' s Director of Biosecurity on 16 May 2017 (G/SPS/N/AUS/422).  
After the suspension lapses, Aus tralia will consolidate raw prawns (i.e. uncooked frozen prawns 
that have had the head and shell removed), marinated prawns, and Australian prawns processed 
overseas, into one product class. These prawns will be subject to the same import conditions.  
A key  import condition is that competent authorities will be required to certify that these prawns 
have been found post -processing to be free of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and yellow head 
virus (YHV) based on sampling and testing methods recognised by the  World Organization for 
Animal Health (OIE). These prawns will also be subject to inspection and testing on -arrival in 
Australia for WSSV and YHV. Australia will issue another notification before the suspension lapses 
to confirm import conditions for all p rawns and prawn products. This notification will include a link 
to the updated model export health certificate.  
Trading partners seeking to resume trade in uncooked prawns and prawn products are asked to 
contact the department as soon as possible to confir m that the revised import conditions can be 
met. Trade in uncooked prawns and prawn meat can only resume once the department has 
received this confirmation and import permits have been updated to reflect the new import 
conditions.  
This addendum concerns a : 
[ ] Modification of final date for comments  
[X] Modification of content and/or sco pe of previously notified regulation  
[ ] Withdrawal of  regulation  
[ ] Change in period of application of measure  
[ ] Other:  G/SPS/N/AUS/412/Add.7  
 
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  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  
Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. 
Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:  
Technical area Address and/or  
The Australian SPS Notification A uthority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au   
 
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