G/SPS/N/AUS/420  
 
31 March 2017  
(17-1791) 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; ICS numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Frozen bovine in vitro  produced embryos  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicab le: 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Canada, United States of America  
5. Title of the notified document: Importation of frozen bovine in vitro  produced 
embryos from Canada and the United States - Final review.  Language(s): English. 
Number of pages: 152 
6. Description of content: The Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources 
has finalised a review of the importation of frozen bovine in vitro  produced embryos 
from Canada and the United States. Bovine in vitro  produ ced embryos from Canada and 
the United States will be able to be imported, subject to biosecurity legislation, the 
negotiation of sample health certificates, and the application of sanitary measures as 
specified in the document Importation of frozen bovine  in vitro  produced embryos from 
Canada and the United States  - Final review.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damag e 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) :  
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestria l or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2016, 
Chapter 4.8 and the Manual of the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS) 
- Fourth Edition: Chapters 2, 3 and 5  
[ ] 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:  G/SPS/N/AUS/420  
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available: 
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/ba/memos/2017/ba2017 -
06.pdf   
10. Proposed date of adoptio n (dd/mm/yy) : Please refer to our answer to No. 11 
below.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 23 March 2017  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : To be decided once US and Canadian sample a nimal health 
certificates are negotiated based on the biosecurity measures recommended in the final 
review.  
[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 handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
13. Text(s)  available from: [X]  National Notification Aut hority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Texts are available at the following web address, or alternatively, from the Australian 
SPS Notification Authority:  
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/biosecurity/risk -
analysis/ira/frozen -ivp-embryo -canada -usa.pdf  
The Australian SPS Notificat ion Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT   2601 
Australia  
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au