WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/AUS/253 
15 September 2010  
 (10-4656) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Notifying Member:  AUSTRALIA
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) 
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):  Seed sprouts 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners Imported (as well as domestically produced) foods sold in 
Australia.  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:    
5. Title of the notified document:  2nd Assessment Report for Proposal P1004 - Primary 
Production & Processing Standard for Seed Sprouts  Language:  English  Number of 
pages:  49 
6. Description of content:  The Seed Sprouts 2nd Assessment Report contains options for the 
management of seed sprout safety and a draft St andard proposed for incorporation into the 
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code .  It proposes mandatory food safety 
requirements for the production and processing of seed sprouts. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[  ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other 
damage from pests.  All proposals to change the Australia New Zealand Food Standards 
Code must be assessed in the context of the following objectives:  (a) the protection of 
public health and safety;  (b) the provision of  adequate information relating to food to 
enable consumers to make informed choices;   and (c) the prevention of misleading or 
deceptive conduct. 
8. Is there a relevant international stan dard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text) Code of Hygienic Practice For Fresh Fruits and Vegetables 
CAC/RCP 53 - 2003, Annex II, Annex For Sprout Production 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    G/SPS/N/AUS/253 
Page 2  
 
  [ ] None 
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
 [ ] Yes   [X] No 
 If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  The Codex Standard includes requirements for primary 
production of seeds, establishments for sprout production, control of operation, incoming 
material requirements, documentation and r ecords, establishment ma intenance, sanitation 
and personal hygiene, transportation, product in formation and awareness, and training.  The 
proposed draft Standard incorporates all of th e requirements of the Codex Standard except 
for requirements relating to the primary produc tion of seeds, including hygienic production 
of seeds, and handling, storage and transport of seeds. 
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:  Australia New 
Zealand Food Standards Code (available in English) 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  May 2011.  Notification to Government 
anticipated in March 2011, with adoption (gazettal) to follow, pending Government 
consideration. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :    
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  12 months from gazettal, pending Govern ment consideration (see 10. above). 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure The proposed draft Standard for inclusion in the 
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code  contains a new set of requirements for seed 
sprout production in Australia. Importation of seed sprouts is subject to satisfying 
Australia's quarantine requirements in cluding compliance with the proposed Australia New 
Zealand Food Standards Code  requirements.  
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  2 November 2010 
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:   
Food Standards Australia New Zealand 
PO Box 7186 Canberra BC ACT 2610 Australia 
Fax:  +(61 2) 6271 2278 
E-mail:  standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au  G/SPS/N/AUS/253 
 Page 3 
 
 
  13. Texts available from:  [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
Documents are available from the Food St andards Australia New Zealand website: 
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/ changingthecode/documentsforpublicco86
8.cfm  
Copies are also available from: 
The Australian SPS Notification Point 
GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601 Australia 
Fax:  +(61 2) 6272 3678 
E-mail:  sps.contact@daff.gov.au