Search

As set out in the Animal Biosecurity Advice (Biosecurity Advices 2022 - DAWE), Australia's Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has released an Issues Paper as the first step in a biosecurity import risk analysis (BIRA) for the import of live sturgeon for aquaculture purposes. The BIRA will identify hazards of biosecurity concern associated with the importation of live sturgeon and risk assessments of hazards will be undertaken as required. The Issues Paper outlines processes to be followed and the hazard identification.

Trading partners will be informed of the release of the draft BIRA report in due course and will have the opportunity to provide additional comment at that time.

Okra from India: biosecurity import requirements - draft report.
The draft report proposes that the importation of commercially produced okra fruit (Abelmoschus esculentus) to Australia from all commercial production areas in India be permitted, subject to a range of biosecurity requirements.
The draft report contains details of pests that are of biosecurity concern to Australia that are potentially associated with the importation of commercially produced okra fruit from India, the risk assessments for the identified quarantine pests, and the proposed risk management measures to reduce biosecurity risks to an acceptable level.

Review of the rabies virus risk in imported dogs, cats
and canine semen from approved countries – draft report.
Australia has released a draft review of the rabies virus risk in imported dogs and cats and canine semen from approved countries for public comment on 20 October 2022. There will be a 30-day consultation period prior to finalisation due to the serious nature of the biosecurity risk. Stakeholders are invited to provide comments on the technical aspects of the proposed measures by 21 November 2022.

Animal Biosecurity Advice 2022-A07 - Heat treatment as a risk management measure for fish and fish products for use as pet food and stockfeed.
As set out in Animal Biosecurity Advice 2022-A07 (https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/memos), from 31 October 2022, revised import conditions will apply for fish and fish products imported into Australia for use as pet food and stockfeed.

Following public consultation on a review of a prescribed heat treatment and a further review of scientific information, revised import conditions for fish and fish products imported into Australia for use as pet food and stockfeed are as follows:
(...)
• All fish products must have been processed and packaged in premises approved by and under the control of the Competent Authority
• All fish products must have been manufactured from ingredients which have not been derived from terrestrial or avian animals. This includes egg products, dairy products and feathers.
An alert to the new conditions will be published in the Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions database (BICON) at https://bicon.agriculture.gov.au/BiconWeb4.0/Home/Notice/.

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has undertaken a review of the biosecurity risk associated with glanders (Burkholderia mallei) in horses and horse semen. The review report has now been finalised. Trade may continue for countries previously approved for the import of horses and horse semen into Australia in accordance with the import requirements detailed in the review report.

Biosecurity Sustainable Funding – Discussion paper.
The Australian Government is seeking to establish a long-term sustainable funding model to strengthen and modernise Australia's national biosecurity system.
Australia's biosecurity system needs to be adaptable to meet new challenges and to respond quickly to maintain the appropriate level of protection required.
No decision on a sustainable funding model has been taken, but in the interests of transparency, as part of a public consultation a discussion paper has been released seeking stakeholders' views on options for funding Australia's biosecurity system.
The discussion paper considers options that have been proposed previously by stakeholders. They do not only reflect current funding arrangements.

Dragon fruit from the Philippines: biosecurity import requirements draft report.
The draft report proposes that the importation of commercially produced dragon fruit (Selenicereus spp. that were previously known as Hylocereus spp. and hybrids thereof) to Australia from all commercial export production areas of the Philippines be permitted, subject to a range of biosecurity requirements.
The draft report contains details of pests that are of biosecurity concern to Australia that are potentially associated with the importation of commercially produced dragon fruit from the Philippines, the risk assessments for the identified quarantine pests, and the proposed risk management measures to reduce biosecurity risks to an acceptable level.

Pest risk analysis for bacterial pathogens in the genus Xylella - draft report.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry initiated a pest risk analysis to assess the biosecurity risks of all Xylella species, and to determine whether the emergency measures manage the biosecurity risks associated with the trade in commercially produced plants for planting and seeds for sowing.

The Australian Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is advising the release the Australian National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce Edition 3.8 to supersede the previous edition 3.7 dated September 2016. (...)

(...) From 1 July 2022, the former Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) has been renamed to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). The only change is the name of the department and DAFF remains the Australian Government competent authority responsible for the inspection and certification, where applicable, of Australian agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, food and forestry product exports and imports. This notification is made in parallel to G/SPS/N/AUS/541 advising the change of name to the SPS Committee. It is also in addition to G/SPS/N/AUS/540 regarding changes to horticulture and grain products export certification to reflect the department's name change. As provided for in the abovementioned notification, updated certificates will be released during July 2022. There will be a short transition period where old and new certificates may be presented to border officials for clearance of goods.