G/SPS/N/AUS/451  
 
5 June 2018  
(18-3436) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member: AUSTRALIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible: Department of Agriculture and Water Resources  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable): Prawns (breaded, battered and crumbed) for human consumption  
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: Biosecurity Advice 2018/10: New import conditions for 
breaded, battered and crumbed prawns for human consumption . Language(s): English.  
Number of pages: 2 
http://www. agriculture.gov.au/biosecurit y/risk -analysis/memos/ba2018 -10 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/AUS/18_2811_00_E.pdf  
6. Description of content: As set out in Biosecurity Advice 2018/10 published on the 
depart ment's website on 30  May 2018 at:  
http://www.a griculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk -analysis/memos/ba2018 -10. 
The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water  Resources has 
determined that new import conditions for breaded, battered and crumbed (BBC) prawns 
are required to manage the risks associated with the increased volume of BBC products 
imported into Australia. The revised BBC import conditions ensure that  the import of BBC 
prawns can continue while achieving Australia's appropriate level of protection (ALOP).  
Pending consideration of comments received during the comment period, all BBC prawns 
arriving in Australia from 28 September 2018 must be certified b y competent authorities of 
exporting countries to have undergone a par -cooking step (for example, pre -frying or 
baking) during processing to solidify and adhere the coating to the prawn. BBC prawns will 
continue to be subject to 100 per cent seals intact i nspection on -arrival in Australia. Only 
those prawns that are verified to have undergone acceptable par -cooking and that meet all 
other requirements for BBC will be released from biosecurity control.  
If countries are unable to attest to a par -cooking step for BBC prawns, then Australia's 
uncooked prawn conditions will apply. The uncooked prawn conditions require pre -export 
sampling and testing to be conducted post -processing and prior to export to Australia. 
Only prawns that have been tested and found to be  free of white spot syndrome virus 
(WSSV) and yellow head virus genotype 1 (YHV1) based on sampling and testing methods 
recognised by the OIE can be exported to Australia. The uncooked prawns will be subject 
to 100 per cent secure seals intact inspection o n-arrival and testing for WSSV and YHV1 in 
Australia. Only those batches that test negative for both viruses will be released from 
biosecurity control.  G/SPS/N/AUS/451  
 
- 2 - 
 
  The new import conditions for BBC prawns will remain in place while Australia continues 
the review of the biosecurity risks of, and import conditions for, prawns and prawn 
products imported for human consumption as announced by Australia' s Director of 
Biosecurity on 16 May 2017 (Biosecurity Advice 2017/07; G/SPS/N/AUS/422 ). 
Australia's updated model health certificate for prawns and prawn meat for human 
consumption is attached.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] 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 serial 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) : 28 September 2018  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 30 May 2018  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : 28 September 2018  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the  date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 29 June 2018  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body :  
Animal Biosecurity  
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources  
GPO Box 858  
CANBERRA ACT 2601  
Australia  
E-mail: AquaticAB@agriculture.gov.au  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [  ] 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@agriculture.gov.au