The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has released the final report for the Review of the biosecurity risks of prawns imported from all countries for human consumption (the prawn review) and the proposed changes to Australia's import conditions for prawns and prawn products.
The final report for the prawn review is available on the department's website: Review of Prawns and Prawn Products - DAFF (https://www.agriculture.gov.au).
The department has published the final report for the prawn review after considering the recommendations from the members of the scientific advisory group on the draft report and provisional final report, as well as all stakeholder feedback and all available scientific information.
The final report proposes that prawns continue to be permitted import into Australia, subject to compliance with a range of amended biosecurity measures. These measures include freezing, freedom from additional pathogenic agents for whole uncooked prawns exported to Australia, and a strengthening of requirements for cooked prawns.
Australia's updated model health certificate for prawns and prawn meat for human consumption, which includes wording to reflect the proposed changes to import conditions, is available on the department's website: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/policy/risk-analysis/memos and at https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/SPS/AUS/23_10065_00_e.pdf.
Trading partners may provide written comment to the department on the proposed requirements until 4 August 2023 (60-day comment period).
Pending consideration of comments, the department will require that prawns and prawn products arriving in Australia from 13 October 2023 be certified by the competent authority of the exporting country to meet the amended health certification requirements.
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