. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/AUS/101
14 July 1999
(99-2920)
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 import restrictions were placed on pig and poultry
products (including egg products) produced in Belgium, France and the Netherlands
between 15 January and 2 June 1999;  import restrictions were extended on 9 June to beef
and dairy products from these countries.
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 15January and 2 June 1999, food in thecategories listed in Item3 imported from Belgium, France and the Netherlands 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.
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):  Monitoring is required of the above products 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/101
Page 2
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  Entry into force on the 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;  extended on 9 June to
beef and dairy products from these countries;  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:           