11 December 2023
We invite you to comment on the draft review by 4pm on Wednesday, 28 February 2024.
The draft report is available for review and comment on our Have Your Say website.
Draft review of Canada as an applicant country for the import of fresh beef and beef products to Australia
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has conducted a draft review of Canada’s status as a country able to apply to import fresh beef and beef products to Australia.
When finalised, this review will be published as an addendum to the department’s 2017 biosecurity review, Fresh (chilled or frozen) beef and beef products from Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United States and Vanuatu – final review (the beef review). It will take into account current and available information concerning the above matters.
The release of this draft provides stakeholders with the opportunity to comment on the outcome from the review which recommends adding Canada to the list of countries that can apply to Australia for market access for fresh beef (‘applicant countries’). The 80-day comment period on this draft will commence on Monday, 11 December 2023 and will conclude at 4pm Wednesday, 28 February 2024.
Following the consultation period, the department will consider all comments in preparing a final report.
If Canada is successful in becoming an applicant country, commencement of trade in beef is then contingent on Canada achieving an appropriate bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk rating following assessment by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and the department assessing that Canada can meet Australia’s published import conditions for fresh (chilled and frozen) beef. Australia’s current entry requirements for fresh beef and beef products require these assessments to be completed.
The department invites comments on the draft review, particularly whether Canada’s animal health status is sufficient for it to be considered an applicant country as per the beef review. All submissions received will be carefully considered when finalising this review.
Submissions should be received through the Have Your Say page.
To receive information and updates on biosecurity risk analyses, subscribe to Biosecurity Risk Analysis Animal at subscribe.agriculture.gov.au/subscribe. Subscribers will receive biosecurity advice notices and other notifications about animal biosecurity policy.
Dr Peter Finnin
Assistant Secretary
Animal Biosecurity
Email: animalbiosecurity@aff.gov.au