. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/AUS/304 
11 September 2012  
 (12-4834) 
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, Fisheries and 
Forestry (DAFF) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Live rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) for commercial purposes 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Certain Member States of the European Union  
5. Title of the notified document:  Importation of commercial rabbits ( Oryctolagus 
cuniculus ) from certain Member States of the Europ ean Union:  policy review of epizootic 
rabbit enteropathy  Language(s):  English  Number of pages:  4 
Biosecurity requirements for the importation of commercial rabbits ( Oryctolagus 
cuniculus ) from certain Member States of the European Union  Language(s):  English  
Number of pages:  6  
6. Description of content:  These documents include a review of available scientific 
information on epizootic rabbit enteropathy (ERE ) which concludes that the risk mitigation 
measures required for ERE are no longer necessar y.  Amended biosecurity requirements are 
detailed in the second document. 
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 stan dard?  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. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)  Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2011);  
Chapter 5.2-Certification Procedures;  Ch apter 5.10-Model Veterinary Certificates 
for International Trade in Live Animals,  Hatching Eggs and Products of Animal 
Origin.  G/SPS/N/AUS/304 
Page 2  
 
  [ ] 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:  Nil   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  3 September 2012 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  3 September 2012 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  3 September 2012 
[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 handl e comments:  [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:    
13. Texts available from:  [ ] National Notification  Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
Texts are available at the following web addr ess, or alternatively, from the Australian SPS 
Notification Point.  
http://www.daff.gov.au/ba/memos  
 
The Australian SPS Notification Point GPO Box 858 
Canberra  ACT  2601 
Australia Fax:  +(61 2) 6272 3678 E-mail:  sps.contact@daff.gov.au