G/SPS/N/AUS/386  
 
9 May 2016  
(16-2550)  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: Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water 
Resources 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Cheese (HS Code: 04.06) 
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: Raw milk cheese: eligibility of countries to export to 
Australia  Language(s): English  Number of pages: 1 
6. Description of content: Australia is conducting science-based reviews on the risks 
associated with certain imported foods. As each review is completed, they are published on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website. 
In response to the risk assessments on ch eese, Australia recently amended its food 
safety legislation, the Imported Food Control Order 2001 related to the classification of cheese as a risk food. These changes are summarised as follows: 
1. Cheese previously described as "soft, semi-soft and fresh cheese", will be described 
as "Cheese in which growth of Listeria  monocytogenes can occur". Cheese with 
characteristics known to support the growth of this pathogen is classified as risk food 
and will be analysed for Listeria monocytogenes. Analysis for E. coli  and Salmonella  
will no longer be conducted. More information is published on the following webpage Cheese in which growth of Listeria monocytogenes  can occur. 
2. Raw milk cheese is classified as a risk food and imports will be permitted under 
certain conditions. Countries wanting to export raw milk cheese to Australia can 
apply for assessment of whether their count ry's raw milk cheese production system 
is equivalent to the system in Australia. A government certification arrangement will 
be established to facilitate trade if the country meets Australia's biosecurity 
requirements, and demonstrates equivalence and compliance with applicable standards. 
Raw milk cheese must comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code 
Standard 4.2.4 Primary production and processing standard for dairy products. When this standard was developed, Food Standards Australia New Zealand notified in July 2014 in G/SPS/N/AUS/343 and August 2014 in G/SPS/N/AUS/343/Add.1. These 
notified of updates to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code Standard 4.2.4 
Primary production and processing standard for dairy products to include the safe production of raw milk cheese. Australia accepted comments on the scientific 
justification of these amendments at that time, so Australia is not inviting comment a 
second time. G/SPS/N/AUS/386 
 
- 2 - 
 
  Information on the eligibility of trading partners to export raw milk cheese to Australia is 
available at the following webpage: Raw milk cheese: eligibility of countries to export to Australia. 
7. Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] 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 st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial  n u m b e r  o f  C o d e x  
standard or related text) Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk and Milk Products 
CAC/RCP 57-2004 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[ ] None 
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
[X] 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: Not 
applicable   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 29 October 2015 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 9 May 2016 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 9 May 2016 
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [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 
13. Text(s) available from: [X] National Notifi cation 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 
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/g oods/food/inspectio n-compliance/rmc