. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/AUS/102
16 July 1999
(99-2946)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  AUSTRALIA
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible: Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, whereapplicable). Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable: On 4 and 5 June 1999 special import restrictions were imposed on pig and
poultry products (including egg products) produ ced in Belgium, France and the Netherlands
between 15 January and 2 June 1999;  and on 9 June restrictions were extended to beef and
dairy products from these countries.  On 2 July 1999 the special import restrictions relating
to pig and poultry products (including egg products) and beef and dairy products from
France and the Netherlands were revoked.
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document: :  Measures invoking existing
powers under the Imported Food Control Act  and Regulations
5. Description of content: As a result of dioxin contamination of stock food distributed in
Belgium, France and the Netherlands between 15 January and 2 June 1999, food in the
categories listed in Item3 above imported from Belgium will be only be cleared by AQIS
under the Imported Food Inspection Program if testing shows that the foods are free of
dioxin contamination, or if they are accompanied by an official certificate indicating that the
foods have not been produced on farms using dioxin contaminated animal feed.  This
notification advises of the removal from 2 July 1999 of special provisions applicable tocertain products from France and the Netherlands.
6. Objective and rationale:  [  X ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
7. Nature of the urgent problem(s):  Continued monitoring is required of the above products
from Belgium to prevent dioxin contaminated foods from entering Australia.
8. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give its appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:           
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Imported Food
Control Act  and RegulationsG/SPS/N/AUS/102
Page 2
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  The import restrictions
relating to products listed in Item 3 from France and the Netherlands have been revoked on
2 July 1999.  The restrictions entered into force on 4 and 5 June 1999 for pig and poultry
products (including egg products) produced in Belgium, France and the Netherlands
between 15 January and 2 June 1999;  and were extended on 9 June to beef and dairyproducts from these countries.  The import restrictions relating to the products from
Belgium will remain in force until revoked on receipt of advice that no threat remains of
contaminated product entering Australia.
11. Texts available from/and agency or authority designated to handle comments:
[    ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point or address, fax
number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:           