The WTO sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement: why you need to know…
Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry and AusAID, 2005
Main site content
Australia’s SPS contact point
Under the transparency provisions of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS agreement), Australia is required to have a National Enquiry Point (NEP), and a National Notification Authority (NNA) (Annex B, paragraph 3 and 10) with the responsibilities of receiving enquiries on Australia’s SPS measures and notifying the WTO on its measures.
Sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS)
Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures are biosecurity measures designed to protect human, animal or plant life or health from:
United Kingdom – Brexit and Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement
At 11pm GMT 31 January 2020 (10am AEDT 1 February), the United Kingdom (UK) formally ceased to be a member state of the European Union (EU) – commonly referred to as ‘Brexit’. We have been taking steps to minimise disruptions arising from Brexit for Australian agricultural producers. The Australian Government is:
Our Overseas Agriculture Counsellor Network
About
Our Overseas Agricultural Counsellor Network plays a vital role in advancing Australia’s trade and market access priorities by promoting Australia’s agricultural interests and building strong connections with government and industry stakeholders in key international markets.
Non-tariff measures
Non-tariff measures (NTMs) are requirements other than ordinary tariffs that can have an economic effect on international trade by influencing quantities traded, prices, or both.
Goods exported by Australian agriculture and food producers must meet these NTM requirements for an importing country to accept them. They typically include health and safety certification or biosecurity compliance measures.
All countries that trade, including Australia, apply NTMs. These measures help facilitate and regulate international trade.
Newsletter - October 2016
Publication details
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
The Partnership newsletter helps builds awareness of the work and achievements of Partnership activities and includes interviews, photos, updates on programme activities and case studies. It is produced bi-annually in both English and Bahasa.
Newsletter - June 2017
Publication details
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
The Partnership newsletter helps builds awareness of the work and achievements of Partnership activities and includes interviews, photos, updates on programme activities and case studies. It is produced bi-annually in both English and Bahasa.
Review of National Marine Pest Biosecurity
Review completed
The government committed $5 million over four years for the department to review existing arrangements and implement improvements for a strengthened national approach to marine pest biosecurity. This commitment was part of the government’s policy for a more competitive and sustainable fisheries sector.
Importers
Australia’s illegal logging law reforms
As of 3 March 2025, Australia’s illegal logging laws have changed. Importantly, this includes changes to due diligence requirements for importers and processors of regulated timber and timber products.