G/SPS/N/AUS/363/Add.4  
 
21 January 2016  
(16-0442)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
Addendum 
The following communication, received on 21 January 2016, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of Australia. 
 
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 New draft biosecurity regulations out for consultation 
The Australian Government, through the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, has 
released further draft regulations under Australia's new Biosecurity Act 2015 for public 
consideration. 
The following draft regulations have been published on the department's website: 
 Biosecurity (General) Regulation 2015: Approved Arrangements; 
 Biosecurity (General) Regulation 2015: Inspector-General of Biosecurity- Biosecurity 
(General) Regulation 2015: Infringement Notices; 
 Biosecurity (General) Regulation 2015: First Points of Entry. 
Approved Arrangements provide an opportunity for businesses to enter into a voluntary 
arrangement with the Commonwealth to manage the biosecurity risk associated with their activities. 
The Inspector-General of Biosecurity is an important statutory position to provide independent 
oversight of our system. 
Infringement notices are one of the tools we have to manage compliance with Australia's 
biosecurity requirements. 
First points of entry are required to ensure that overseas aircraft and any goods on board enter 
Australia at a designated place that has the appropriate facilities to effectively manage biosecurity 
risks. 
The release of the draft regulations gives interested clients, stakeholders and trading partners the 
opportunity to provide feedback on how the regulati ons will work in practice when Australia's new 
Biosecurity Act takes effect on 16 June 2016. 
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is working in consultation with the 
Department of Health to implement the new legislation and develop the delegated legislation including the draft First Points of Entry Regulation. 
For more information, or to make a submission, please visit: 
http://www.agriculture.gov.au /biosecuritylegislation  or contact the Biosecurity Legislation 
Implementation Support Office at newbiosecuritylegislation@agriculture.gov.au. 
Submissions on the draft First Points of Entry Regulation relating to human health can be directed 
to the Department of Health. Please visit the Depa rtment of Health's website for more information: 
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publis hing.nsf/Content/ohp-biosecurity-bill.htm  G/SPS/N/AUS/363/Add.4 
 
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  This addendum concerns a: 
[ ] Modification of final date for comments 
[ ] 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 
[X] Other: New draft biosecurity regulations out for consultation 
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) : Consultation on the draft regulations for Approved Arrangements, 
Inspector-General of Biosecurity and Infringement Notices closes on 10 February 
2016; with consultation on the First Points of Entry closing on 10 March 2016. 
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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