G/SPS/N/AUS/390  
 
30 June 2016  
(16-3550 )  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary 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 item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Honey bee semen 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries: Canada, the European Union, Japan, 
New Zealand, and the United States of America  
5. Title of the notified document: Importation of honey bee semen - Final review of 
import conditions  Language(s): English  Number of pages: 45 
6. Description of content: The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has 
released a final review of the risk manage ment of honey bee semen. The final review 
was completed following assessment of submissions from stakeholders. 
The final review concludes that: 
 Imports be permitted from those countries that are currently approved to export 
queen honey bees to Australia; 
 Risk management measures are required to prevent the introduction of the 
Africanised honey bee ( Apis mellifera scutellata ) ,  a n  u n d e s i r a b l e  s u b - t y p e  o f  t h e  
European honey bee; and 
 Restrictions on entry of honey bee semen to the state of Western Australia due to 
that state's differing honey bee health status. 
The report is available at: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-
analysis/animal/honey-bee-semen . 
The department released the final review on 20 June 2016 and the measures are in force 
from that date. 
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.   G/SPS/N/AUS/390 
 
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  8. Is there a relevant international st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial  n u m b e r  o f  C o d e x  
standard or related text)   
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)  Terrestrial Animal Health Code 
(2015); Section 5- Trade Measures, Import/Export Procedures and Veterinary 
Certification  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[ ] None 
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
[X] 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 date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 20 June 2016 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 20 June 2016 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 20 June 2016 
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
13. Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notifi cation Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Texts are available at the following web addr ess, or alternatively, from the Australian 
SPS Notification Point:  
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/bio security/risk-analysis/memos . 
The Australian SPS Notification Point 
GPO Box 858 
Canberra  ACT  2601 
Australia Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678 
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au