G/SPS/N/AUS/433/Add.3  
5 March 2020  
(20-1735) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
Addendum  
The following communication, received on 3 March 2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Australia . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Agricultural Export Legislation - Passed the Australian Parliament, the Export Control Bills Package 
2019 
The Australian Parliament has passed the Export Control Bills Package 2019 (the Bills Package) 
without amendment on 27 February 2020. The Bills Package consists of the Export Control Bill 2019 
(the Bill), Export Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Bill 2019 and three 
Imposition Amendment Bills 2019 (Excise, General and Customs). Each Bill is accompanied by an 
Explanatory Memorandum and the Explanatory Memorandum for the Bill includes a Re gulation Impact 
Statement (SPS Notification G/SPS/N/AUS/433/Add.2 Refers). The Bills will become Acts when they 
shortly receive Royal Assent.  
The Bill consolidates export -related provisions currently within the Export Control Act 1982 and 
Australian Meat a nd Live -stock Industry Act 1997 into a single Export Control Bill. Commodity -specific 
requirements will be reflected in the new Export Control Rules (the rules), which will replace the 
current Export Control Orders without changing their intent. Initial co nsultation on draft Meat, Milk, 
Eggs and Fish rules has already taken place, with drafting continuing on the remaining commodity 
specific rules. Trading partners will be provided with an opportunity to comment on all the rules in 
2020.  
The improved legisla tive framework will commence shortly before 1 April 2021.  
Trading Partners should be assured that existing levels of government oversight and regulatory 
powers will be maintained within the new legislation. Australia's ability to meet importing country 
requirements and international trade obligations will not be impacted as a result of these 
improvements.  
Improved export legislation provides the framework for complying with exporting requirements, 
creating a system that is more flexible and efficient to adm inister. This will ensure the continued 
integrity of Australia's export system and promote consistent and efficient administration across 
Australia's export chains.  
Business practices and regulatory requirements will remain consistent between the current a nd future 
legislation. The continuation of current business practices means costs for regulatory services will 
remain the same.  
Further information on the Bill is available from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and 
the Environment website at  agriculture.gov.au/improving -export -legislation  G/SPS/N/AUS/433/Add.3  
 
- 2 - 
 
  This addendum concerns a:  
[ ] Modification of final date for comments  
[X] Notification of adoption, publication or entry into force of regulation  
[ ] Modification of content and/or scope of previously no tified 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 potentially affected Members, a new deadline for receipt of 
comments should be provided, normally of at least 60 calendar days. Under other 
circumstances, such as extension of originally announced final date for comments, the 
comme nt 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 comments: [X]  National Notification Authority, 
[X] N ational 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  
Email: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  
Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X] 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  
Email: sps.contact@agr iculture.gov.au  
__________