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Agreement Document symbol Notifying Member Year Harmonized types of environment-related objectives Harmonized types of measures Harmonized types of sectors subject to the measure Measure description See more information
Quantitative Restrictions G/MA/QR/N/AUS/4 Australia 2020
Chemical, toxic and hazardous substances…
Chemical, toxic and hazardous substances management, MEAs implementation and compliance
 Ban/Prohibition, Export licences Chemicals, Manufacturing, Other
12. Asbestos: Exportation and importation of…
12. Asbestos: Exportation and importation of asbestos and certain goods containing asbestos is prohibited unless the goods are raw materials that contain naturally occurring traces of asbestos, or the asbestos is, or the goods are, hazardous waste as defined in section 4 of the HW Act (...) - the prohibition does not prohibit the exportation from Australia, of asbestos or goods described in Schedule 1 that contain asbestos, that are incorporated into other goods in a way that does not constitute a risk to users until the asbestos is disturbed.
Environment related objective
To protect the environment by prohibiting the use of asbestos. Article XX(b) of the GATT; Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (the Rotterdam Convention)
Measure description Coverage of the measure
12. Asbestos: Exportation and importation of asbestos and certain goods containing asbestos is prohibited unless the goods are raw materials that contain naturally occurring traces of asbestos, or the asbestos is, or the goods are, hazardous waste as defined in section 4 of the HW Act (...) - the prohibition does not prohibit the exportation from Australia, of asbestos or goods described in Schedule 1 that contain asbestos, that are incorporated into other goods in a way that does not constitute a risk to users until the asbestos is disturbed.
Asbestos and certain goods containing asbestos. Some codes have ex.
Type of measure
CP: Prohibition except under defined conditions; CP-X: Prohibition except under defined conditions for exportation
 ICS - HS Code
2524
2715
3214
6811.40
6812.80
6812.99
6813.20
8425.31
8703.21
8711
Subsidy amount Implementation period
Information for the following biennial period: 2018-2020 and relates to restrictions in force as of 31 December 2018
Keywords
Hazardous
MEAs
Quantitative Restrictions G/MA/QR/N/AUS/4 Australia 2020
Chemical, toxic and hazardous substances…
Chemical, toxic and hazardous substances management, MEAs implementation and compliance, Waste management and recycling
 Export licences, Import licences Chemicals, Other
13. Hazardous waste: All exports and imports…
13. Hazardous waste: All exports and imports require a permit under the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 which is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
Environment related objective
To protect the environment by regulating waste and to comply with the Basel Convention. Article XX(b) of the GATT; Basel Convention for the Control of Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal (the Basel Convention)
Measure description Coverage of the measure
13. Hazardous waste: All exports and imports require a permit under the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 which is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
Waste that is explosive, flammable, poisonous, toxic, exotoxic or infectious substances, clinical wastes, waste oils, waste residue from manufacture or household waste as defined by the Basel Convention.
Type of measure
NAL: Non-automatic licensing; NAL-X: Non-automatic licensing for exportation
 ICS - HS Code
Subsidy amount Implementation period
Information for the following biennial period: 2018-2020 and relates to restrictions in force as of 31 December 2018
Keywords
Hazardous
MEAs
Waste
Quantitative Restrictions G/MA/QR/N/AUS/4 Australia 2020
Chemical, toxic and hazardous substances…
Chemical, toxic and hazardous substances management, Climate change mitigation and adaptation, MEAs implementation and compliance, Ozone layer protection
 Export licences, Import licences Chemicals
14. Ozone depleting substances and Synthetic…
14. Ozone depleting substances and Synthetic Greenhouse Gases: The exportation and importation of certain ODS and SGG and equipment is prohibited unless a licence has been granted. A license is required to export ODS and SGG and can be granted by an authorised person at the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, as a delegate of the responsible Minister.
Environment related objective
To control the use of ozone depleting substances. Article XX(b) of the GATT; Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (the Montreal Protocol); the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Measure description Coverage of the measure
14. Ozone depleting substances and Synthetic Greenhouse Gases: The exportation and importation of certain ODS and SGG and equipment is prohibited unless a licence has been granted. A license is required to export ODS and SGG and can be granted by an authorised person at the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, as a delegate of the responsible Minister.
Chemicals including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs); halons carbon tetrachloride; methyl chloroform; hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs); hydro-fluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), bromochloromethane (BCMs), methyl bromide, nitrogen trifluoride and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). There is an absolute prohibition on the export of hydrbromfluorocarbons (HBFCs).
Type of measure
NAL: Non-automatic licensing; NAL-X: Non-automatic licensing for exportation
 ICS - HS Code
2903.14
2903.19
2903.39
2903.71
2903.72
2903.73
2903.74
2903.75
2903.76
2903.77
2903.78
2903.79
3824.71
3824.74
Subsidy amount Implementation period
Information for the following biennial period: 2018-2020 and relates to restrictions in force as of 31 December 2018
Keywords
Climate
Environment
Green
MEAs
Ozone
Quantitative Restrictions G/MA/QR/N/AUS/4 Australia 2020
Biodiversity and ecosystem, MEAs implementation…
Biodiversity and ecosystem, MEAs implementation and compliance
 Import licences Other
15. Imports to Antartica: Under the Antarctic…
15. Imports to Antartica: Under the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 as amended, and in line with the requirements of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (the Madrid Protocol), persons are not permitted to import certain items into Antarctica. This legislation applies to Australian nationals for all areas south of 60° south and for foreign nationals to the Australian Antarctic Territory only.
Environment related objective
To protect the environment by limiting imports of non-native species into the Antartica. Article XX(b) of the GATT; Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.
Measure description Coverage of the measure
15. Imports to Antartica: Under the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 as amended, and in line with the requirements of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (the Madrid Protocol), persons are not permitted to import certain items into Antarctica. This legislation applies to Australian nationals for all areas south of 60° south and for foreign nationals to the Australian Antarctic Territory only.
A person shall not bring into the Antarctic an organism that is not indigenous to the Antarctic unless the organism (not being a live animal) was brought into the Antarctic to be used as food. None of these items may be brought into Antarctica unless authorised by a permit: non-sterile soil, or polychlorinated biphenyls, or polystyrene beads or chips or any similar kind of packaging material; and any pesticide unless for scientific, medical or hygienic purposes.
Type of measure
NAL: Non-automatic licensing
 ICS - HS Code
Subsidy amount Implementation period
Information for the following biennial period: 2018-2020 and relates to restrictions in force as of 31 December 2018
Keywords
Environment
Indigenous
MEAs
Soil
Quantitative Restrictions G/MA/QR/N/AUS/4 Australia 2020 Biodiversity and ecosystem Import licences Other
16: Imports to the Territory of Heard Island and…
16: Imports to the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands. The purpose of the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands Environment Protection and Management Ordinance 1987 is the preservation and management of the Territory for the protection of its environment and wildlife.
Environment related objective
To protect the environment and Wildlife of the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands. Article XX(b) of the GATT
Measure description Coverage of the measure
16: Imports to the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands. The purpose of the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands Environment Protection and Management Ordinance 1987 is the preservation and management of the Territory for the protection of its environment and wildlife.
Prohibits the importation of any diseased organism or live poultry into the Territory; any organism, or any dead poultry or poultry products into the Territory unless in accordance with a permit.
Type of measure
NAL: Non-automatic licensing
 ICS - HS Code
Subsidy amount Implementation period
Information for the following biennial period: 2018-2020 and relates to restrictions in force as of 31 December 2018
Keywords
Environment
Wildlife
Quantitative Restrictions G/MA/QR/N/AUS/4 Australia 2020 Energy conservation and efficiency Import licences Manufacturing
17. Incandescent (filament) lamps: Imports of…
17. Incandescent (filament) lamps: Imports of certain incandescent lamps are prohibited without written permission from the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, or an authorised person.
Environment related objective
To control the use of inefficient lighting. Article XX(b) of the GATT.
Measure description Coverage of the measure
17. Incandescent (filament) lamps: Imports of certain incandescent lamps are prohibited without written permission from the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, or an authorised person.
Inefficient General Lighting Service (GLS) electric filament lamps as set out in Australian Standard 4934.2(Int):2008- Incandescent Lamps for General Lighting Services, Part 2: Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) Requirements.
Type of measure
NAL: Non-automatic licensing
 ICS - HS Code
8539.22
Subsidy amount Implementation period
Information for the following biennial period: 2018-2020 and relates to restrictions in force as of 31 December 2018
Keywords
Emissions
Energy
Quantitative Restrictions G/MA/QR/N/AUS/4 Australia 2020
Chemical, toxic and hazardous substances…
Chemical, toxic and hazardous substances management, MEAs implementation and compliance
 Export licences Agriculture, Chemicals
28. Agricultural and veterinary chemicals: If a…
28. Agricultural and veterinary chemicals: If a controlled chemical is an active constituent or agvet chemical product (as defined by the Agricultural and Veterinary Code Act 1994) the restrictions of Schedule 1 of the Agvet Regulations apply. If the controlled chemical is not an active constituent or agvet chemical product or is being exported for other purposes, then a permit issued by the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources (or authorised officer) under regulation 4A of the Customs (Prohibited Export) Regulations 1958 is required.
Environment related objective
To protect the environment from hazardous chemicals. Article XX(b) of the GATT; the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (the Stockholm Convention); the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (the Rotterdam Convention).
Measure description Coverage of the measure
28. Agricultural and veterinary chemicals: If a controlled chemical is an active constituent or agvet chemical product (as defined by the Agricultural and Veterinary Code Act 1994) the restrictions of Schedule 1 of the Agvet Regulations apply. If the controlled chemical is not an active constituent or agvet chemical product or is being exported for other purposes, then a permit issued by the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources (or authorised officer) under regulation 4A of the Customs (Prohibited Export) Regulations 1958 is required.
Chemicals listed in Schedule 2 of the Customs (Prohibited Export) Regulations 1958; chemicals listed in Schedule 1 of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Regulations 1995 (the Agvet Regulations).
Type of measure
NAL-X: Non-automatic licensing for exportation
 ICS - HS Code
Subsidy amount Implementation period
Information for the following biennial period: 2018-2020 and relates to restrictions in force as of 31 December 2018
Keywords
Hazardous
MEAs
Organic
Pollution
Quantitative Restrictions G/MA/QR/N/AUS/4 Australia 2020
Chemical, toxic and hazardous substances…
Chemical, toxic and hazardous substances management, MEAs implementation and compliance
 Export licences, Import licences Chemicals
29. Industrial chemicals: The export and import…
29. Industrial chemicals: The export and import of the industrial chemicals mentioned is prohibited unless the Director, National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS Director) has given written approval for the export at or before the time of the proposed export.
Environment related objective
To protect the environment from hazardous chemicals. Article XX(b) of the GATT; Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (the Rotterdam Convention).
Measure description Coverage of the measure
29. Industrial chemicals: The export and import of the industrial chemicals mentioned is prohibited unless the Director, National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS Director) has given written approval for the export at or before the time of the proposed export.
(a) each of the following kinds of polybrominated biphenyls: (i) hexabromobiphenyl; (ii) octabromobiphenyl;(iii) decabromobiphenyl;(b) tris (2,3 dibromopropyl) phosphate;(c) polychlorinated biphenyls;(d) polychlorinated terphenyls;(e) tetraethyl lead;(f) tetramethyl lead;(g) commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether (including tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether);(h) commercial octabromodiphenyl ether (including hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether); (i) perfluorooctane sulfonic acid;(j) perfluorooctane sulfonates, perfluorooctane sulfonamides and perfluorooctane sulfonyls, including the following: (i) potassium perfluorooctane sulfonate;(ii) lithium perfluorooctane sulfonate;(iii) ammonium perfluorooctane sulfonate;(iv) diethanolammonium perfluorooctane sulfonate;
(v) tetraethylammonium perfluorooctane sulfonate;(vi) didecyldimethylammonium perfluorooctane sulfonate;(vii) N ethylperfluorooctane sulfonamide;(viii) N methylperfluorooctane sulfonamide;
(ix) N ethyl N (2hydroxyethyl) perfluorooctane sulfonamide;(x) N (2 hydroxyethyl) N methylperfluorooctane sulfonamide;(xi) perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride.
Type of measure
NAL: Non-automatic licensing; NAL-X: Non-automatic licensing for
 ICS - HS Code
Subsidy amount Implementation period
Information for the following biennial period: 2018-2020 and relates to restrictions in force as of 31 December 2018
Keywords
Hazardous
MEAs
Quantitative Restrictions G/MA/QR/N/AUS/4 Australia 2020 Other environmental risks mitigation Export licences Other
30. Biological agents: All exports require a…
30. Biological agents: All exports require a permit from the Department of Defence prior to export.
Environment related objective
To protect the environment from pathogens including biological and GMOs.
Measure description Coverage of the measure
30. Biological agents: All exports require a permit from the Department of Defence prior to export.
Biological agents including human pathogens, zoonoses, toxins, animal pathogens, plant pathogens, and genetic elements and genetically modified organisms.
Type of measure
NAL-X: Non-automatic licensing for exportation
 ICS - HS Code
Subsidy amount Implementation period
Information for the following biennial period: 2018-2020 and relates to restrictions in force as of 31 December 2018
Keywords
Bio
Genetic
Quantitative Restrictions G/MA/QR/N/AUS/5 Australia 2020
Animal protection, Biodiversity and ecosystem,…
Animal protection, Biodiversity and ecosystem, MEAs implementation and compliance, Plant protection
 Export licences, Import licences Other
3. Endangered animal and plant species – CITES…
3. Endangered animal and plant species – CITES and Australian native species: Plant and animal species listed under CITES generally require a CITES permit for import or export. Restrictions vary according to the CITES appendix listing (I, II or III). There are some exemptions for exports of personal and household effects (non–live specimens). Australian native animals and plants which are not described in the List of Exempt Native Specimens require an export permit.
Environment related objective
To protect plant and animal species listed under CITES. WTO Justification: Article XX(b) of the GATT; CITES
Measure description Coverage of the measure
3. Endangered animal and plant species – CITES and Australian native species: Plant and animal species listed under CITES generally require a CITES permit for import or export. Restrictions vary according to the CITES appendix listing (I, II or III). There are some exemptions for exports of personal and household effects (non–live specimens). Australian native animals and plants which are not described in the List of Exempt Native Specimens require an export permit.
Animal and plant species and all products manufactured from species (including some medicinal products) listed in the appendices to the CITES. Examples include black coral, orchids and ivory products
Type of measure
NAL: Non-automatic licensing; NAL-X: Non-automatic licensing for exportation; CP-X: Prohibition except under defined conditions for exportation
 ICS - HS Code
Subsidy amount Implementation period
Information for the following biennial period: 2020-2022 and relates to restrictions in force as of 30 September 2020
Keywords
Bio
Conservation
Endangered
Environment
MEAs