G/SPS/N/AUS/364  
 
15 July 2015  
(15-3640)  Page: 1/3  
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 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S 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 Regulation Review  Language(s): 
English  Number of pages: 25 
http://www.agriculture.gov.au /export-regulation-review  
6. Description of content: The Department of Agriculture has commenced a review of 
Australia's agricultural export regulation.   
The purpose of the review is to ensure Australia has regulation that:  
- supports agricultural exporters to quickly access and utilise market opportunities 
now and into the future; 
- imposes an appropriate regulatory burden; 
- facilitates cooperation in export activities between government and industry to 
efficiently manage risk; and 
- best facilitates Australian agricultural exports meeting importing country 
requirements. 
The review will include stakeholder consulta tions and, as appropriate, propose changes 
and improvements to agricultural export regulation. 
Trading partners are encouraged to read the discussion paper available on the 
department's website and are invited to provide submissions at 
http://www.agriculture.gov.au /export-regulation-review . 
Any subsequent changes to agricultural export regulation will continue to meet 
Australia's international obligations under the SPS Agreement. Trading partners will be 
updated on the outcomes of th e process and any next steps. 
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/364 
 
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  8. Is there a relevant international st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial  n u m b e r  o f  C o d e x  
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:     
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable. Any changes will be part of 
a subsequent process. The review will cons ider client and stakeholder comments and, 
where relevant, identify improvements to agricultural export regulation. 
Recommendations for any improvements will be put to the Australian Government for consideration and agreement. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable. Any changes will be part of a subsequent 
process. The review will consider client and stakeholder comments and, where relevant, identify improvements to agricultural export regulation. Recommendations for any improvements will be put to the Australian Government for consideration and 
agreement. 
[X] Trade facilitating measure  The review will include consultation with 
stakeholder groups and as appropriate,  propose changes and improvements to 
regulatory aspects of agricultural export regulation.  
12. Final date for comments: [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 13 September 2015 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
The Australian SPS Notification Point  
GPO Box 858  Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678  E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au 
Submissions or specific comments on the agricultural export regulation review may be 
sent to: Agriculture Export Regulation Review Department of Agriculture  
GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601  
E-mail: biosecurityconsultation@agriculture.gov.au G/SPS/N/AUS/364 
 
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  13. Text(s) available from: [X] National Notifi cation Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
The Australian SPS Notification Point  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601  Australia  
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  Website: http://www.agriculture.gov.au /export-regulation-review