G/SPS/N/AUS/150/Add.2  
 
24 September 2015  
(15-4931)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
Addendum 
The following communication, received on 22 Septem ber 2015, is being circulated at the request 
of the Delegation of Australia. 
 
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 Biosecurity policy for importation of precooked (microwave) bacon 
The Australian Government Department of Agriculture has determined that processing of 
precooked (microwave) bacon within specific parameters can provide an equivalent level of 
biosecurity risk management to the recommendations  of the Generic import risk analysis (IRA) for 
pig meat: final import risk analysis report (February 2004) which was notified to the WTO in 
G/SPS/N/AUS/150 (19 August 2003) and in G/SPS/N/AUS/150/Add.1 (28 June 2004). Heat 
treatment of pig meat is a risk management measure that helps to address a number of diseases of biosecurity concern, including porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. The 
manufacturing process for precooked (microwave) bacon includes an initial partial cook and 
subsequent microwave heating process. 
The determination takes into account current scientific information and the recommendations of 
the Generic import risk analysis (IRA) for pig meat: final import risk analysis report 
(February 2004). In particular, a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome inactivation study 
on microwave heated bacon, published in January 2015, was reviewed: Mills ER, Barry RM, Myers SE, Mills EW (2015) Deactivation of porcine repr oductive and respiratory syndrome virus during 
microwave heating of bacon. Journal of Veterinary Science and Technology 6: 
213. doi:10.4172/2157-7579.1000213. 
Importation of precooked (microwave) bacon may be permitted subject to the Quarantine Act 
1908, and the application of specific sanitary measures. The policy will be taken into account by 
decision makers when considering import permit applications for precooked (microwave) bacon from approved countries in accordance with th e Quarantine Act 1908 and Quarantine Proclamation 
1998 as amended. 
Precooked (microwave) bacon will need to meet the same requirements as for importation of 
cooked pig meat from approved countries, with  variations to the required cooking process 
parameters. Imports of precooked (microwave) baco n from countries approved to export cooked 
pig meat to Australia will be able to commence under specific import conditions once veterinary 
health certification has been negotiated. 
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:   G/SPS/N/AUS/150/Add.2 
 
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  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, 
[X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of 
other body: 
   
Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notificati on Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. 
Address, fax number and e-mail addre ss (if available) of other body: 
   
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