G/SPS/N/AUS/301/Add.1  
 
8 November 2013  
(13-6207)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
Addendum 
The following communication, received on 7 November 2013, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of Australia. 
 
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 Final review of policy for the importation of dogs and cats and their semen from approved 
countries 
The Australian Government Department of Agriculture has finalised the review of biosecurity policy for the importation of dogs and cats (including semen) from approved countries (Biosecurity Advice 2013/22). Once the necessary arrangements for implementation have been completed, the 
policy will be taken into account by decision makers when considering import permit applications in 
accordance with the Quarantine Act 1908 and Quarantine Proclamation 1998 as amended. 
Stakeholders were invited to comment on the draft policy review (Biosecurity Advice 2012/17), 
released as G/SPS/N/AUS/301 on 27 July 2012 for a 60-day consultation period which closed on 
24 September 2012. The Department of Agriculture completed this policy review of the importation of dogs and cats and their semen after considering all stakeholder comments. 
This policy review includes a number of key revisions to biosecurity measures for the importation 
of dogs and cats and their semen. One of these is for approved countries (from which dogs and 
cats and their semen can be exported to Australia) to be classified into three categories based on their animal health status. This replaces the five categories under the previous policy. 
Recommendations relating to rabies include: 
 the removal of post-arrival quarantine as a measure for rabies; 
 for importation from approved countries recognised by the Department of Agriculture as 
rabies-free (Category 1 and 2) - the continued recognition of certification of country freedom 
as an appropriate biosecurity measure for rabies; 
 for importation from approved countries not recognised by the Department of Agriculture as 
rabies-free (Category 3) - the removal of the pre-export residency requirement of six months 
in an approved country. All pre-export preparations must still be performed in an approved 
country, including a valid rabies neutralising anti body titre test at least 180 days before export 
to Australia; 
 for importation from the Republic of South Afri ca - the removal of pre-export quarantine; and 
 for importation from countries not approved by the Department of Agriculture - dogs and cats 
continue to be eligible for importation only via an approved country and must meet all of the 
Department of Agriculture's biosecurity requirements for that approved country. 
This policy review also recommends the remova l of the pre-export residency requirement of 
90 days for the importation of dogs and cats from New Zealand. 
In addition to revised biosecurity measures for rabies, this policy review recommends: 
 the revision of biosecurity measures for external and internal parasites and (for dogs only) 
canine brucellosis, canine monocytic ehrlichiosis and leptospirosis; 
 the adoption of a minimum mandatory post-arrival quarantine period of 10 days to address the 
risks of external parasites and associated vector-borne diseases; and 
 for dog semen - the revision of biosecurity measures for canine brucellosis, leishmaniasis and 
leptospirosis. G/SPS/N/AUS/301/Add.1 
 
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  Until notified otherwise, the import conditions under the previous policy continue to apply for the 
importation of dogs and cats and their semen from  approved countries. This is required to allow 
for operational activities to be completed. Further information about implementation is available at http://www.daff.gov.au/biosecurity/cat-dogs . 
This addendum concerns a: 
[ ] Modification of final date for comments 
[X] Notification of adoption, publication or entry into force of regulation 
[X] 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 
[ ] Other:   
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 
Agency or authority designated to handle co mments: [ ] National Notification Authority, 
[ ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax nu mber and e-mail address (if available) of 
other body: 
   
Text available from: [X] National Notificati on Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. 
Address, fax number and e-mail addre ss (if available) of other body: 
Texts are available at the following web address,  or alternatively, from the Australian SPS 
Notification Point: http://www.daff.gov.au/ba/reviews/fina l-animal/dogs_and_cats/ba2013-22-
final-policy-importation-dogs-cats-semen-approved-countries . 
The Australian SPS Notification Point 
GPO Box 858 Canberra  ACT  2601 Australia 
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678 
Email: sps.contact@daff.gov.au  
 
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