G/SPS/N/AUS/391  
 
10 August 2016  
(16-4290) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Meas ures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member: AUSTRALIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible: Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water 
Resources  
3. Products covered (provide tariff ite m number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable):  
Canned/retorted food  
 Dairy products (ICS Codes: 0401.10, 0401.50, 0402.90, 0402.10, 0402.50, 
0402.00, 0403.90, 0404.00, 0 404.01, 0405.00, 0406.01);  
 Egg products (ICS Codes: 0407.01, 0408.00, 0410.00, 0505.00);  
 Meat products (ICS Codes: 0209.01, 0210.00, 0210.10, 0210.90, 0210.05, 
0210.50, 0210.60, 0210.70, 0210.95, 0305.00, 0305.01, 0305.10, 0305.90, 
0306.10, 0306.20, 0306.9 0, 0306.00, 0306.01, 0307.00, 0307.90, 0307.14, 
0307.15, 0307.16, 0307.91);  
 Food containing more than 5% meat (beef only) from Japan;  
 Canned meat products (excluding beef);  
 Chicken or pork from New Zealand; and  
 Meat, mixed country origins, exported from Ne w Zealand.  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document: BICON import conditions for animal based retorted 
goods fo r human consumption   Language(s): English   Number of pages: 2 
6. Description of content: The requirement for an import permit will be removed. The 
goods will still have to meet Australia's import conditions to manage biosecurity risks 
associated with the goods to an acceptable level. The BICON import conditions for 
animal based retorted goods for human consumption will require the retorted (canned) 
goods be accompanied by a veterinary certificate issued by the Government Authority in 
the country of manufac ture. This veterinary certification will need to certify to the import 
conditions described in the notified document.  
These import conditions are for all animal based retorted goods for human consumption, 
excluding retorted: goods from New Zealand; fish pr oducts; plant products; snails; and 
goods containing less than 5% meat. Less restrictive conditions remain available for 
these goods.  
It is expected these changes will take effect later this year. The new import conditions 
for retorted goods for human cons umption and all other commodities will continue to be 
available through the Department's Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) at: 
http://www.bicon.agriculture.gov.au/biconweb4.0 . G/SPS/N/AUS/391  
 
- 2 - 
 
  7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory 
from other damage from pests.    
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or ser ial number of Codex 
standard or related text)   
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number)    
[X] None  
Does this proposed  regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
[ ] Yes   [ ] No  
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:     
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be confirmed.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be confirmed.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ]  Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : To be confirmed.  
[X] Trade facilitating m easure   
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 9 October 2016  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Add ress, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
Australian SPS Contact Point  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  
13. Text(s)  available from: [ ]  National Notification Au thority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Australian SPS Contact Point  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au