. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/AUS/199/Rev.1 
4 December 2006 
 (06-5810) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES 
 
Revision
 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  AUSTRALIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:        
2. Agency responsible:  Biosecurity Australia (BA)  
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 corm taro ( Colocasia esculenta ) for human consumption, particularly 
Colocasia esculenta  var. antiquorum.  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All 
countries exporting taro to Australia.  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Nil 
6. Description of content:  Nil 
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       
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reasons for urgent action:  Imports of fresh corm 
taro Colocasia esculenta  var. antiquorum  into Australia for human consumption were 
suspended from all countries under Emer gency Measure G/SPS/ N/AUS/199 (06-3352), 
pending further investigation.  Import conditions for Colocasia esculenta  have now been 
amended to ensure the suspension on the importation of Colocasia esculenta  var. antiquorum  
can be effectively enforced. 
Available scientific literature indicates that Colocasia esculenta  var. antiquorum  has a high 
capacity to propagate even when topped and fr ee from all foliage including petiole bases and 
therefore presents an increased risk of introduc ing pests and diseases of quarantine concern to 
Australia. 
A review of the available scientific literature has identified certain morphological distinctions 
between the two main re cognised varieties of Colocasia esculenta , Colocasia esculenta  var. 
esculenta  and Colocasia esculenta  var. antiquorum .  Import conditions for Colocasia 
esculenta  have been amended to include certain morphological charac teristics with the 
objective of excluding importation of Colocasia esculenta  var. antiquorum .  This will enable 
effective enforcement of the suspension on the importation of Colocasia esculenta  var. 
antiquorum . G/SPS/N/AUS/199/Rev.1 
Page 2  
 
   In addition to existing phytosanitary certifica tion requirements, imports of fresh taro for 
human consumption must comply with  morphological characteristics of Colocasia esculenta  
var. esculenta.   Specifically, the taro must: 
- be at least 15 cm long;  and/or 
- at least 7 cm in diameter at the widest point;  and 
- at least 300 gm in weight;  and 
- free of lateral buds or shoots;  and 
- lack shaggy hairs. 
Under interim arrangements, existing import permits will be revoked and re-issued and 
product in-transit will be perm itted under existing permits. 
These measures will remain in place pending th e outcome of further risk assessment of pests 
and diseases associated with the import of fresh corm taro.  
9. International standard, guideline or recommendation: 
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [ X ] International Plant Protection Convention,  [   ] None 
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:        
10. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Nil 
11. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  Immediate 
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [ X ] National notification 
authority,  [   ] National enquiry point,  or address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
Contact:  The Australian SPS Notification Point 
GPO Box 858 Canberra  ACT  2601 Australia 
E-mail:  sps.contact@daff.gov.au
 
13. Texts available from:  [    ] National notification authority, [    ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: