WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/AUS/238 
15 October 2009  
 (09-5028) 
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):  Eggs and egg products 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners Potentially all countries, most likely Asia  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Draft Assessment Report for Proposal P301 – Primary 
Production & Processing Standard for Eggs & Egg Products  Language:  English  Number 
of pages:  105   
6. Description of content:  Australia is proposing to include a Primary Production and 
Processing Standard for Eggs and Egg Products into the Australia New Zealand Food 
Standards Code  (the Code).  The Standa rd will apply to eggs and egg products available for 
sale for human consumption in Australia, but does not apply to New Zealand.  In conjunction with other standards in the Code, the proposed Standard will provide through-
chain control of food safety hazards as sociated with eggs and egg products. 
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.  The objective of the Standard is to reduce the incidence of food-borne 
illness from Salmonella  by minimising the prevalence of Salmonella  in eggs and egg 
products.  As there is an increased likeli hood of cracked and dirty eggs containing 
Salmonella , the objective includes ensuring that cracked  and dirty eggs are not sold as shell 
eggs and that all liquid egg (egg pulp) is treated to control Salmonella . 
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 relati ng to food to enable consumers to make 
informed choices; and (c) the preventio n of misleading or deceptive conduct. G/SPS/N/AUS/238 
Page 2  
 
  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) CAC/RCP 15 – 1976 – Code of Hygienic Practice for Eggs and 
Egg Products 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] 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:  The proposed draft Standard and consequential amendments are 
consistent with the principles described in th e Codex Code of Hygienic Practice for Eggs 
and Egg Products. 
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) :  Notification to Government anticipated June 
2010 with adoption (gazettal) to follow,  pending Government consideration. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  Date of Gazettal pending Government 
consideration. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Si x months from date of publication, and/or 
(dd/mm/yy) :  12 months after gazettal pending G overnment consideration (see 10 above). 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure 
Importation of food containing egg or egg produc ts are subject to satisfying Australia's 
quarantine requirements.  
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  15 December 2009 
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:   
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/238 
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  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/standardsdev elopment/proposals/proposalp301primaryp3
426.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