   
  
G/TBT/N/AUS/110  
11 July 2019  
(19-4612) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  AUSTRALIA   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Agriculture  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trad e  
Email: tbt.enquiry@dfat.gov.au  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], other  [ ]:  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  All 
agricultural products, including dairy, honey, processed foods, seafood, eggs, wool, meat, 
plant, in -edible meat products (such as pet food), skins and hides.  
5. Title, number of pages and langua ge(s) of the notified document:  Changes to 
Australia's Export Certificates and Container Seals.  
6. Description of content:  This notification is in regards to a change in the appearance 
and functionality of export certificates and a change to container seals on consignments 
from Australia. Changes include:  
• using the name Australian Government — rather than previous names of t he 
department  
• using the Australian Government crest  
• adding a unique Quick Reader (QR) code to check the authenticity of the 
certificate in real -time 
• using attachment pages, where needed, to capture more information that can't 
fit on the first page of the c ertificate  
• facsimile/electronic signatures on some certificates  
• issuing certificates on plain paper — when issued with a QR code.  
These changes will be coming in stages, with the first stage (the change in appearance of 
seals) coming into effect on 1 Augus t 2019 and will only affect goods exported from 
Australia.  
Export certification and container seals are issued under the Export Control Act 1982.  
There will be no change to Australia's existing certification arrangements or regulatory 
control over exports.   G/TBT/N/AUS/110  
 
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  7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  These changes will make Australia's export documentation system more 
secure and responsive to changes in trade conditions. It will improve efficiency and the 
conduct o f international trade . 
8. Relevant documents:   
• www.agriculture.gov.au/export -changes  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  1 August 2019  
Proposed date of entry into force:  1 August 2019  
10. Final date  for comments:  26 July 2019  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
www.agriculture.gov.au/export -changes  
Enquiries should be directed to:  
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade  
Email: tbt.enquiry@dfat.gov.au  
www.a griculture.gov.au/export -changes  
 