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Australia's approach to non-preferential rules of origin (ROOs) remains unchanged since its previous Review; however, changes were made to preferential ROOs in its RTAs. The most common rules in these RTAs are those of: wholly obtained; change in tariff classification (CTC); regional value content (RVC); and the process rule (for chemicals). The ROOs in Australia's RTA with Singapore are based on an RVC measure, while the ROOs in its RTAs with New Zealand, the United States, Thailand, and Chile are essentially based on the CTC methodology, reinforced and enhanced where necessary with RVC and process rule requirements or options. In Australia's RTA with ASEAN and New Zealand and the RTA with Malaysia, "alternative and co equal" product-specific rules exist for most tariff lines, offering exporters the choice of a CTC based rule or an RVC-based equivalent. Around 83% of tariff lines are covered by these "alternative and co equal" rules, while approximately 11% of lines offer only one option — either a CTC based or RVC rule. The remaining lines are covered by wholly obtained requirements for agricultural goods and special rules for waste and scrap goods.(...)

Between 2010 and 2013, Australia initiated six countervailing investigations. As of 30 June 2014 seven definitive countervailing duties were levied on aluminium extrusions, aluminium road wheels, hollow structural sections, aluminium zinc coated steel, zinc coated steel, and hot rolled plate steel from China, as well as biodiesel from the United States.

The institutional framework for standards and conformance remains unchanged. It consists of four main bodies: Standards Australia, a not-for-profit company encompassing 75 of Australia's leading industry, government and consumer organisations is responsible for the formulation of standards; the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), and the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) (section 3.2.7.1.3), the two main accreditation bodies ; and the National Measurement Institute (NMI), the government body responsible for physical, chemical, biological and legal metrology. The current five year long Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between Commonwealth Government (Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR)) with Standards Australia and NATA, largely the continuation of the previous MOUs, were signed on 17 and 21 May 2013 respectively. The MOU with Standards Australia still requires the development of new or amended standards and setting of priorities to be transparent and well-founded, and ensuring the primary decision criterion is of net benefit to the community as a whole.[59] (...)

[59] Net benefit takes into account the costs and benefits related to: public health and safety; social and community impact; environmental impact; competition; and economic impact (Standards Australia online information. Viewed at: http://www.standards.org.au/StandardsDevelopment/What_is_a_Standard/Pages/Net-Benefit.aspx).

(…) In December 2014, 71% of motor vehicle safety, anti-theft and emission standards were aligned with the United Nations (UN) 1958 Agreement on technical standards for automotive and parts regulations; a further 13% were modified for adoption, while 16%, comprising ten standards, were not aligned. (...)

The Code (the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code) also regulates food derived from Genetically Modified (GM) plants, animals or micro-organisms, as well as the labelling of GM foods. Imported foods using biotechnology may be sold in Australia only after assessment and approval by FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand). As at 1 July 2014, FSANZ had completed assessments of 63 (45 in November 2010) commodities produced from gene technology. A further four were withdrawn by the applicants before FSANZ completed the assessment process; by July 2014 it was assessing the safety of food from one GM commodity. FSANZ has also assessed and approved numerous enzymes sourced from GM micro-organisms. Imports of live and viable genetically modified organisms (GMOs) require authorization under the Gene Technology Act 2000, which regulates particular dealings with GMOs in addition to permissions for use in food. All dealings involving release (DIR) of a GMO into the environment must be licensed by the Gene Technology Regulator, an independent statutory office holder, unless otherwise authorized under the Act. All licence applications are subject to case by case scientific risk assessment and risk management. As at 30 June 2014, seventeen accredited organizations held the 54 DIR licences in force, of which 9 were for commercial release of GMOs (cotton, canola and a vaccine), three for vaccine trials, and 42 for limited and controlled trials of GM crop varieties.

(…) Australia's last WTO notification on GMO/biotechnology matters was submitted in 2007 as all GM foods approved regulations since then have been considered consistent with international standards and not having a significant effect on trade. Therefore, Australia did not consider it necessary to notify these regulatory changes to GM foods. For the same reason, Australia has not generally notified approvals of enzymes and other processing aids, additives or other minor changes to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code which they consider to be equivalent to the approval of a GM commodity. (...)

No changes were brought to GM-related labelling requirements. Since 2001 GM foods, ingredients, additives, or processing aids that contain novel DNA or protein must be labelled with the words "genetically modified". GM foods that do not contain any novel DNA or protein or do not have altered characteristics do not require labelling. Flavours containing novel DNA or protein in a concentration of no more than 0.1% are also exempt from labelling. Labelling is also not required when there is no more than 1% (per ingredient) of an approved GM food unintentionally present as an ingredient or processing aid in a non-GM food.

(…) When conducting procurement above certain thresholds, all agencies are required to follow mandatory procurement procedures (i.e. CPR Division 2 – Additional rules for procurements at or above the relevant procurement threshold) , which provide for open, prequalified, and limited tendering. However, procurement of, inter alia, accommodation, R&D services, and motor vehicles [107] is exempt from mandatory procurement procedures. (...)

[107] As at 31 May 2014, there were 6,522 passenger vehicles in the Government fleet of which 74% were Australian-made. As at 30 June 2013, there were 7,046 passenger vehicles in the Government fleet of which 64.1% were Australian-made, 25.6% were imported by an Australian manufacturer, and the rest (10.3%) imported by a non-Australian manufacturer. At the time of the previous Review, the Government's Green Car Challenge plan stipulated that by 2020, 50% of the Government fleet passenger vehicles would be Australian made "value-for-money environmentally friendly" cars; this policy is no longer in place (section 4.4.1) (Department of Finance online information. Viewed at: http://www.finance.gov.au/procurement/previous_news.html; WTO document WT/TPR/S/244/Rev.1, 18 May 2011; Department of Finance, 2012; and Department of Finance online information. Viewed at: http://www.finance.gov.au/vehicle-leasing-and-fleet-management/FleetStatistics.html and http://www.finance.gov.au/procurement/procurement-policy-and-guidance/commonwealth-procurement-rules/

(…) Export controls on wood and woodchips are for the purpose of protecting environmental and heritage values. (…)

Table 3.6 Excise rates, 2011 and 2014 ($A)
Commodity: Biodiesel
Rates applying from 1 February 2011: 0.38143a
Current rates February 2014: 0.38143
(…)