G/SPS/N/AUS/363/Add.10  
 
16 June 2016  
(16-3288)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
Addendum 
The following communication, received on 16 June 2016, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Australia. 
 
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 The Biosecurity Act 2015 commences today, 16 June 2016 
The Australian Government, through the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, is 
reminding industry stakeholders and clients that the Biosecurity Act 2015 commences today, 
16 June 2016. 
The Australian Government, through the Department  of Agriculture and Water Resources, advises 
that as of today, 16 June 2016, the Biosecurity Act replaces Quarantine Act, as the primary piece 
of commonwealth biosecurity legislation in Australia. 
The Biosecurity Act has been developed in consultation with industry, agricultural stakeholders, 
state and territory governments, environmental groups, health professionals, international trading 
partners and the general public. 
If you have any questions regarding how to operate under the Biosecurity Act, please contact the 
Biosecurity Implementation Branch at newbiosecuritylegislation@agriculture.gov.au or call 
1800 040 629. 
The Biosecurity Act 2015 and supporting instruments can be viewed on the Federal Register of 
Legislation (formerly ComLaw) website at https://www.legislation. gov.au/Details/C2015A00061 . 
Importers, brokers, port operators and those invo lved in transport or supply chain logistics are 
advised to make sure they understand the legislation including changes that may affect your industry. 
In some defined areas, the legislation makes provision for a transition period to allow businesses 
time to become compliant with new requirements. 
For information on transitional arrangements, please refer to the department's website or the 
Biosecurity (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2015 at 
https://www.legislation.go v.au/Details/C2015A00062 . 
The department's website has dedicated informatio n on the new legislation. You can find this 
information at http://www.agriculture.gov.au /biosecuritylegislation . 
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 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/363/Add.10 
 
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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: [X] National Notification Authority, 
[X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of 
other body: 
The Australian SPS Notification Point 
GPO Box 858 
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia 
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678 
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  
Specific enquires about the new legislation and implementation process may be sent to: 
Biosecurity Legislation Implementation Support Office Biosecurity Policy and Implementation Division Department of Agriculture and Water Resources 
GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601 
E-mail: newbiosecuritylegislation@agriculture.gov.au  
Text(s) available from: [X] National Notificati on Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. 
Address, fax number and e-mail addre ss (if available) of other body: 
The Australian SPS Notification Point 
GPO Box 858 
Canberra ACT 2601 
Australia Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678 E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  
 
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