G/SPS/N/AUS/515  
 
17 February 2021  
(21-1319) 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, Water and the Environment  
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):  Dairy, honey, processed foods, seafood, eggs, wool, meat, plant, 
in-edible meat products (such as pet food), skins and hides, pharmaceuti cals, live animal 
and reproductive material  
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:  Updates to Phytosanitary Certificates for Agricultural 
Exports from Australia . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:   
6. Description of content:  Australia is implementing new export legislation, the Export 
Control Act. Consequently, from 28 March 2021, the reference to the year of the Export 
Control Act, which currently refers to 1982, shall be removed from all sanitary and 
phytosanitary certifica tes issued by Australia's competent authority, the Department of 
Agriculture, Water and the Environment.  
Further, the reference to department names underneath the Australian Government crest 
will be updated to read "Australian Government" except i) where an importing country 
expressly requires the name of the competent authority to appear on the certificate; and 
ii) for plant certificates.  
Australia is removing the signature of the Chief Veterinary Officer from all electronically 
issued meat, dairy, egg, non -prescribed goods and seafood health certificates. This will 
be replaced with the National Veterinary Technical Manager's (Dr Stewart Lowden) 
signature who will have oversight of the export systems in accordance with OIE and 
Codex  guidance on certi fication arrangements. Australian health certificates that have a 
manual signature applied will continue to bear the signature of departmental officers 
authorised to sign export health certification and apply the department seal.  
Signatories for live anima l, reproductive material, grain, seed and horticulture 
phytosanitary certificates will not change. Plant export certificates will update references 
to "Authorised Officer" with the term "delegate".  
The planned changes do not affect the agreed attestations for market access, the 
department's regulatory controls over exports, or the bilaterally agreed information 
regarding the consignment details described on the certificate.  
Australia's updated certificates will be released during March 2021. Updated plant 
certificates will be released on 15 March 2021. There will be a short transition period 
where old and new certificates may be presented to border officials for clearance of goods.  G/SPS/N/AUS/515  
 
- 2 - 
 
  7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [X]  animal health, [X]  plant pr otection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [X]  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) :  
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) : 
ISPM No. 12 
[ ] 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 docume nts and language(s) in which these are available:   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : March 2021  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : March 2021  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : March 2021  
[ ] 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: [X]  National Notificat ion 
Authority, [X]  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  
E-mail: sps.contact@awe.gov.au  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  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  
E-mail: sps.contact@awe.gov.au