Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Minister
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Plant health
    • Drought and rural support
    • Mouse infestation advice
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade Lowering biosecurity risks to Australia, and assisting industry to accelerate growth towards a $100 billion agricultural sector by 2030.
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Report a concern
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2023-24

    Budget 2023-24

    The 2023–24 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 9 May 2023.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About us
  3. News and media
  4. World Standards Day: Supporting agricultural protection and prosperity

Back to news - AWE

  • Back to news

World Standards Day: Supporting agricultural protection and prosperity

  • Statement
  • Animals
  • Plants
  • Food
14 October 2021

On World Standards Day we recognise and thank the technical experts across the world who collaborate to deliver international standards for animal health and welfare, plant health and food safety.

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment contributes to global efforts to develop and implement international standards for animal health and welfare, plant health and food safety.

International standards that are science-based and accommodate Australia’s unique systems are essential for protecting our biosecurity, food safety and valuable export markets.

International standards remove barriers to trade by creating common understanding and reducing discrepancies between trading partners.

This is critical to the prosperity of agricultural producers in an exporting nation like Australia. 

Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Mark Schipp said the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) published standards to promote animal disease control and animal welfare, while safeguarding international trade and improving national Veterinary Services.

“Australia is a key contributor to these standards, including through supporting improvements to the Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Codes which are used internationally,” Dr Schipp said.

“Australia’s contribution to the standard setting process is supported by input from a range of stakeholders, including state and territory governments, industry bodies and academics.

“A new web portal is being developed to streamline this consultation process, ensuring Australian expertise and production processes are well represented. “

Australian Chief Plant Protection Officer, Dr Gabrielle Vivian-Smith said the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) aimed to develop and improve international standards for plant health, biosecurity and facilitation of safe trade of plants and plant products.

“Recently the department attended a number of regional workshops to provide recommendations on international standards related to re-export certification, audit and glossary terms aiding a common understanding of the content of standards even when translated into multiple official languages.

“The focus is now on identifying priorities for new standards or revisions and as part of the Southwest Pacific region, we have contributed to a proposal for a standard on the safe movement of food and other humanitarian aid.”

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) establishes international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade. The department houses Australia’s Codex Contact Point and coordinates Australia’s active engagement in Codex.

First Assistant Secretary of the Exports and Veterinary Services Division, Nicola Hinder, chairs the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS) and is the Australian delegation lead to CAC.

“CCFICS is a multilateral committee developing international standards for systems that ensure the safety and reliability of food trade,” Nicola Hinder said.

“CCFICS met virtually for the first time from 31 May to 8 June 2021 and successfully advanced a number of texts for adoption that will both strengthen food safety and underpin the safe trade in food.”

This World Standards Day the department acknowledges our own technical experts who provide essential input and leadership to global organisations like the OIE, the IPPC, and the CAC. Known as the ‘Three Sisters’, these standard setting bodies are recognised by the World Trade Organization (WTO) as reference organisations for the purpose of international trade.

Fast Facts

  • Australia’s agricultural industry is estimated to be valued at $73 billion in 2020-21. Improving international standard-setting will contribute to Ag2030 – the goal of growing a $100 billion agricultural industry by 2030.
  • The Three Sisters are the OIE, IPPC and CAC. Under the WTO’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement, member countries of the WTO are obligated where reasonable, to adopt the international standards published, and participate in the work of the relevant standard-setting organisations.
  • Australia has a strong history of contributing to international standards-setting. We joined the OIE in 1925, one year after its inception and 20 years before the United Nations was founded. We were a founding member of the IPPC and CAC, joining these organisations in 1952 and 1963 respectively.
  • To find out more about the Three Sisters, visit the OIE, IPPC and CAC websites.
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Copy link

Related

Collage of various images relating to the Three Chief's mandate (decorative)

Australia’s Anti-Microbial Action Plan

  • Newsletter
  • Animals
01 December 2023
Decorative image

Getting rabies on the run in the Asia-Pacific

  • Media release
  • Diseases
28 September 2023
Image of a person standing in front of a presentation screen - they are Dr Bertie Hennecke speaking at the launch of the National Feral Deer Action Plan

Ministers launch new plan to manage feral deer

  • Newsletter
  • Animals
14 September 2023
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 12 October 2022

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.