G/SPS/N/AUS/454  
 
31 July 2018  
(18-4847) 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): Fresh dates (greater than 30% moisture content) ( Phoenix 
dactylifera ) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Algeria; Bahrain, Kingdom of; Egypt; Iran; Iraq; 
Israel; Jordan; Kuwait, the State of; Lebanese Republic; Liby a; Morocco;  Oman; 
Pakistan; Palestine; Qatar; Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of; Syrian Arab Republic; 
Tunisia; Turkey; United Arab Emirates and Yemen.  
5. Title of the notified document: Draft report for the review of biosecurity import 
requirements for fresh dates from the Middle East and North Africa region, July 2018 . 
Language(s): English.  Number of pages: 200 
6. Description of content:  
Draft pest risk analysis and the proposed measures to achieve Australia's appropriate level 
of protection for the import of fresh date fruit (greater than 30% moisture content) from 
the Middle East and North Africa region. The draft report includes:  
 Summary,  
 Introduction, including Australia's biosecurity policy framework and this pest risk 
analysis,  
 Method for pest risk analysis,  
 Middle East and North Africa's commercial production practices for fresh dates,  
 Pest risk assessments for quarantine pests,  
 Pest risk management,  
 Pest categorisation.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] anima l health, [X]  plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] 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) :  G/SPS/N/AUS/454  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
ISPM No 2  and 11  
[ ] 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:   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from dat e of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 28 September 2018  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] 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  
Email: sps.contact@agr iculture.gov.au  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] 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  
Email: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  
Report available (in English) from Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website:  
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk -analysis