. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/AUS/295 
4 May 2012  
 (12-2392) 
Committee on Sanitary and 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 (DAFF) 
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):  Cattle, sheep and goat semen and embryos  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Member States of the European Union, 
Switzerland and Norway  
5. Title of the notified document:  Biosecurity Advice 2012/10: Amended health 
certification requirements for cattle, sheep and goat semen and embryos from the European 
Union, and cattle semen and embryos from Norway and Switzerland  Language(s):  
English  Number of pages:  4 
"http://www.daff.gov.au/ba/reviews/final-
animal/ruminant_genetics_from_Europe/schmallenberg_virus "  
6. Description of content:  Biosecurity Advice 2012/10 notifies stakeholders of amended 
health certification requirements for rumina nt germplasm from Europe collected after 
1 June 2011. The measures, outlined in this document, are required to address the identified 
biosecurity risk of introducing Schmallenberg  virus (SBV) in imported cattle semen and 
embryos. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests.    G/SPS/N/AUS/295 
Page 2  
 
  8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  The amended import 
conditions are a managed risk approach, based  on Australia's understanding of the biology 
of Simbu group viruses. Serology will identify an imals that were either not ever exposed at 
the time of collection, or had been exposed at  least 14 days prior to the time of collection 
and therefore believed to be  immune and not harbouring residual live virus from the 
infection. Australia's understanding of these viruses  is that they cause acute infections that 
are cleared by the animal and do not result in pr olonged viraemia or pr olonged or persistent 
infections in any tissues. There will usually be a period of at least 7 days between infection 
and the development of detectable antibodies. The purpose of the requirements is to give 
Australian producers access to desired genetic resources from Europe while taking a managed risk approach. 
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)   
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)   
[X] 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:  This is an emerging disease and therefore no international 
standard currently exists. 
10. Other relevant documents and langua ge(s) in which these are available:   Nil   
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
Approximately 14 May 2012 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. 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:    
13. Texts available from:  [X] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
 The Australian SPS Notification Point 
 GPO Box 858  Canberra ACT 2601  Australia  Fax:  (+61) 2 6272 3678  E-mail:  sps.contact@daff.gov.au   
Texts are available at the following web address,  or alternatively, from the Australian SPS 
Notification Point.  
"http://www.daff.gov.au/ba/reviews/final-
animal/ruminant_genetics_from_Europe/schmallenberg_virus "