24 November 2010
Biosecurity Australia Advice 2010/36
Import risk analysis for the importation of beef and beef products from Canada
This Biosecurity Australia Advice (BAA) notifies stakeholders that Biosecurity Australia has invoked the ‘stop the clock’ provision for the import risk analysis (IRA) of beef and beef products intended for human consumption from Canada.
Under the Quarantine Regulations 2000, certain periods of time in the IRA process may be disregarded such as when further information is essentital to complete an IRA and that a proposer or another person can provide the information. Biosecurity Australia has requested information from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on Canada's cattle health status and beef production, inspection and certification systems.
Accordingly, until Biosecurity Australia receives this information, any time that elapses will not be considered as being within the regulated period for this IRA. A further BAA will be issued to notify stakeholders when the clock is restarted.
Biosecurity Australia Advice 2010/10 of 8 April 2010, announced the formal commencement of standard IRAs under the regulated process to consider the importation of beef and beef products from the United States, Canada and Japan. The IRAs to be completed within the 24-month period, include review by the Eminent Scientists Group (ESG), which is independent of Biosecurity Australia.
Under Clause 69G (Circumstances affecting completion of an IRA) of the Quarantine Regulations 2000, if the Chief Executive believes that further information is essential to complete an IRA and that a proposer or another person can provide the information, the Chief Executive may request, in writing, that the proposer, or othe other person, provide the information. Biosecurity Australia has requested information from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on Canada's cattle health status and beef production, inspection and certification systems.
The Quarantine Regulations 2000 contains the provision that certain periods of time may be disregarded in circumstances where delays are not attributable to Biosecurity Australia (Clause 69H) and may affect the completion of the IRA within the regulated time period. This is referred to as the ‘stop the clock’ provision in the Import Risk Analysis Handbook 2007 (updated 2009).
Accordingly, a decision has been made to 'stop the clock' on this IRA. Until Biosecurity Australia receives the requested information, any time that elapses will not be considered as being within the regulated period for this IRA.
The clock will be restarted when the CFIA is able to provide the requested information. A further BAA will be issued to notify stakeholders when the clock is restarted.
Please pass this notice to other interested parties. If those parties wish to be included in future communications on this matter they should advise the contact officer. Alternatively, if you wish to be removed from the distribution list, please advise the contact officer.
[signed]
Dr Colin J Grant
Chief Executive
Contact officer: Dr Andrew Cupit
Telephone no.: +61 2 6272 3933
Facsimile no: +61 2 6272 3399