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The Free Trade Agreement between the Parties has established a free trade area consistent with Article XXIV of GATT 1994 and for trade in services, an agreement of the type referred to in Article V of the GATS.The Agreement also contains commitments on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, temporary entry for business persons, investment, digital trade, intellectual property, government procurement, competition policy and consumer protection, state-owned enterprises and designated monopolies, small and medium-sized enterprises, innovation, labour, environment, development, trade and gender equality, animal welfare and antimicrobial resistance, good regulatory practice, cooperation, transparency and anti-corruption, and dispute settlement.

Commonwealth Procurement Rules (14 December 2020).The Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) are the basic rule set for all procurements by the Australian Government and govern the way in which entities undertake their own processes. The changes to the CPRs that apply to above threshold procurement reflect the Australian Government’s commitment to sustainable procurement practices; and emphasises the importance of paying suppliers on time, particularly small businesses.

The CPRs require officials to consider a range of relevant financial and non-financial costs and benefits when undertaking a procurement. Recent updates to the CPRs have included ensuring coverage committed under relevant trade agreements is appropriately maintained, as well as updates to facilitate more diversity and competition in the Australian Government’s supplier base and ensuring that broader economic and social issues are normalised through the procurement process, as appropriate (such as environmental sustainability, encouraging risk to be more accurately reflected in contracts, and strengthening requirements to make payments to suppliers within the maximum payment terms).

Proposed chemical management standards for four persistent organic pollutants: The Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS) has been developed by all Australian governments to efficiently and effectively manage the risks of industrial chemicals to the environment, while providing consistent requirements for businesses across Australia. The IChEMS Register records standards for the environmental management of chemicals, including risk management measures for specific industrial uses. In turn, the Australian federal government and each state and territory government will enact legislation to implement the standards in their jurisdictions. (...) The proposed scheduling decisions aim to: Enact standards for Stockholm Convention listed persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that have industrial uses and which Australia has not yet ratified. (...)

Proposed chemical management standards for Persistent Organic Pollutants: The Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS) has been developed by all Australian governments to efficiently and effectively manage the risks of industrial chemicals to the environment, while providing consistent requirements for businesses across Australia. The IChEMS Register records standards for the environmental management of chemicals, including risk management measures for specific industrial uses. In turn, the Australian federal government and each state and territory government will enact legislation to implement the standards in their jurisdictions. (...)

Proposed changes to the Industrial Chemicals (General) Rules and Categorisation Guidelines: The consultation paper invites public comments on a suite of proposals relating to categorisation, reporting and record-keeping obligations - through proposed amendments to the Industrial Chemicals (General) Rules 2019 and the Industrial Chemicals Categorisation Guidelines administered by the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS). Key proposals in this consultation include: Replacing written undertakings with records that will make compliance easier; Greater acceptance of International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) names for reporting and record keeping; Changes to the categorisation criteria to benefit; small-scale soap makers; introducers of chemicals in flavour and fragrance blends; introducers of hazardous chemicals where introduction and use are controlled; Strengthening criteria and/or reporting requirements for health and environmental protection, for example, to prevent persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from being categorised as exempted or reported Introductions.

Proposed chemical management standards for Persistent Organic Pollutants: The Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS) has been developed by all Australian governments to efficiently and effectively manage the risks of industrial chemicals to the environment, while providing consistent requirements for businesses across Australia. The IChEMS Register records standards for the environmental management of chemicals, including risk management measures for specific industrial uses. In turn, the Australian federal government and each state and territory government will enact legislation to implement the standards in their jurisdictions.(...)

Proposal seeks to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to align the following maximum residue limits (MRLs) for various agricultural and veterinary chemicals so that they are consistent with other national regulations relating to the safe and effective use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals:
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The scientific methodology used by Australia to establish MRLs is consistent with international best practice and follows a rigorous scientific risk analysis (...) Countries set MRLs according to the good agricultural practice (GAP) or good veterinary practice (GVP) applicable to their region. Agricultural and veterinary chemical use patterns differ between different production regions and countries as pests, diseases and environmental factors vary. This means that Australian MRLs for agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food may differ from Codex standards.

This Proposal seeks to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to align the following maximum residue limits (MRLs) for various agricultural and veterinary chemicals so that they are consistent with other national regulations relating to the safe and effective use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals:
(...)
The scientific methodology used by Australia to establish MRLs is consistent with international best practice (...) Countries set MRLs according to the good agricultural practice (GAP) or good veterinary practice (GVP) applicable to their region. Agricultural and veterinary chemical use patterns differ between different production regions and countries as pests, diseases and environmental factors vary. This means that Australian MRLs for agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food may differ from Codex standards.