. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/AUS/237 
2 October 2009  
 (09-4696) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES 
 
1. Notifying Member:  AUSTRALIA
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:     
2. Agency responsible:  Australian Government Department  of Agriculture, Fisheries and 
Forestry 
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):  Hosts of the Asian citrus psyllid ( Diaphorina citri ), including oranges ( Citrus 
sinensis  and C. aurantium ), lemons ( Citrus limon ), mandarins and tangerines ( Citrus 
reticulata ), grapefruit ( Citrus paradisi ), calamondins ( Citrus mitis ), tangors ( Citrus 
reticulata  x C. sinensis ), tangelos ( Citrus reticulata x C. paradisi ), Tahitian limes ( Citrus 
latifolia ), Rangpur limes ( Citrus limonia ), pumelos ( Citrus grandis ), limes ( Citrus 
aurantifolia ), kaffir limes ( Citrus hysterix ), citrus leaves ( Citrus  spp.), curry leaves 
(Murraya koenigii ) and kumquat ( Fortunella  spp.) for human consumption 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners 
[X] Specific regions or countries:  United States  
5. Title of the notified document:  None  Language:     Number of pages:      
6. Description of content:  Australia has adopted emergency measures to amend the 
importation conditions for a range of citrus fru it, citrus leaves and kumquat fruit to manage 
the risk of introduction and spread in Australia of Asian citrus psyllid ( Diaphorina citri ). 
Consignments of these commodities must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, 
issued by the NPPO of the country, stating that: 
 "The produce (fruit or leaves) in this cons ignment has been sourced from a place of 
production which is free of Diaphorina citri " 
or 
 "The produce (fruit or leaves) in this cons ignment has been subjected to a treatment 
 effective against Diaphorina citri ". 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [X] plant protection, [ 
] protect humans from animal/plant pest or  disease, [ ] protect territory from other 
damage from pests.    G/SPS/N/AUS/237 
Page 2  
 
  8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  Diaphorina citri  is a 
pest damaging to range of plants in the Rut aceae family that includes citrus.  The pest has 
been present in the United States since 1998 as is the vector of the citrus pathogen 
"Candidatus  Liberibacter asiaticus", which causes the disease citrus greening.  
Diaphorina citri  was detected in Orange and Los A ngeles counties in California in August 
2009 and is now present in areas of close proximity to those approved to export citrus fruits 
to Australia.  Australia is introducing measures to ensure that citrus fruit exported from the 
United States are free from the psyllid.  A comp rehensive risk analysis is being undertaken 
and will be released for public comment. 
9. 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)   
[ ] 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:    
10. Other relevant documents and langua ge(s) in which these are available:   None   
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
2 October 2009   
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:    
13. Texts available from:  [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body: