. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/AUS/272 
19 August 2011  
 (11-4142) 
Committee on Sanitary and 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):  Non-pasteurised hard to very  hard cooked curd cheeses 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners The requirements will apply to imported as well as 
domestically produced foods sold in Australia.  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:    
5. Title of the notified document:  Proposal P1007 - Primary Production and Processing 
Requirements for Raw Milk Products  Language(s):  English  Number of pages:  33 
6. Description of content:  The Proposal amends the processing requirements in the Australia 
only Standard 4.2.4 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code  to permit non-
pasteurised hard to very hard cooked curd cheeses.  In particular, a broader range of 
production parameters will be specified fo r cheese and cheese products e.g. minimum 
moisture content, minimum storage time. There are also consequential amendments to Standard 4.2.4A to delete specific cheeses in Standard 4.2.4A as they will be covered by 
Standard 4.2.4. 
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)  
 Codex Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk and Milk Products CAC/RCP 57-2004 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    G/SPS/N/AUS/272 
Page 2  
 
  [ ] 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:    
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 April 
2012 with adoption (gazettal) to follow,  pending Government consideration. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  N/A 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  Date of Gazettal, pending Government  consideration (see Item 10 above). 
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  14 October 2011 
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 
P.O. Box:  7186 Canberra BC  ACT  2610 Australia Fax:  +( 61 2) 6271 2278 
E-mail:  standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au 
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 will be available from the FSANZ website from 19 August 2011 at 
"http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/ changingthecode/documentsforpublicco8
68.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