G/SPS/N/AUS/433  
 
25 August 2017  
(17-4531) 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): Agricultural exports from Australia  
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: Agricultural Export Legislation – Release of Exposure 
Draft of Export Control Bill 2017.  Language(s): English . Number of pages: 2 
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/export -legislation/consultation  
6. Description of content: Following a review of Australia's export legislation 
(G/SPS/N/AUS/364) the Australian Government is noti fying an Exposure Draft of the 
Export Control Bill 2017, with proposed improvements to agricultural export legislation.  
The Bill will consolidate export -related provisions with the Export Control Act  1982 and 
Australian Meat and Live -stock Industry Act 199 7 into a single Export Control Bill. 
Commodity -specific requirements will then be reflected in Export Control Rules, which 
will replace the current Export Control Orders without changing their intent.  
There is no change to Australia's commitment to meet th e importing requirements of our 
trading partners, and international obligations under the SPS Agreement. Business 
practices and regulatory requirements will remain consistent between the current and 
future legislation. The improved export legislation provi des a regulatory system that is 
more responsive and efficient to administer.  
To view the full suite of documents, make a submission or to seek further information, 
visit the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website at 
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/export -legislation . Submissions will be accepted until 
11:59pm on Tuesday, 24 October 2017 (Australian Eastern Standard Time).  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [X ] animal health, [X]  plant 
protection, [X]  protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [X]  protect 
territory from other damage from pests.  G/SPS/N/AUS/433  
 
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  8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commissio n (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: 
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/export -legislation  (available in English)  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 28 March 2020  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 28 March 2020  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 28 March 2020  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 24 October 2017  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
The Australian SPS Notification Aut hority  
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 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  
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au