. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/AUS/246 
7 April 2010  
 (10-1827) 
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):  Cherries ( Prunus avium ), strawberries ( Fragaria x ananassa ) stone fruit 
(Prunus  spp.) and table grapes ( Vitis 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 host fruit to manage the risk of introduction and 
spread in Australia of spotted winged drosophila ( Drosophila suzukii ). 
Consignments of these commodities must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, 
issued by the NPPO of the country, stating that: 
"The fruit in this consignment has been sour ced from a place of production which is free of 
Drosophila suzukii ." 
If it is not possible to demonstrate that a place of production is free from Dros ophila 
suzukii , quarantine measures that reduce the risk of Drosophila suzukii  entering and 
establishing in Australia, sufficient to meet Aust ralia's appropriate leve l of protection, will 
need to be negotiated on a case by case basis.  
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 reason for urgent action:  Drosophila suzukii  is a 
pest damaging to range of soft fruits on many  plant species.  The pest has been recently 
introduced to the United States of America, Canada and Italy.  Drosophila suzukii  has been 
reported to cause widespread economic loss on a large variety of sound commercial fruits 
including cherries, stone fruit, strawberries and table grapes. G/SPS/N/AUS/246 
Page 2  
 
  The association of eggs, larvae and pupae in host fruit approved for export to Australia 
presents a pathway for Drosophila suzukii  to enter and establish in Australia.  Australia is 
introducing measures to ensure that host fruit,  as specified in item 3, exported from all 
countries are free from viable Drosophila suzukii .  A comprehensive risk analysis will be 
undertaken and 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:   -   
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  From date of 
notification 
[ ] 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, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body: