Australia’s review of

the biosecurity risks of

prawns imported for
human consumption
18 July 2023

Dr Kally Gross & Polly Hannaford / Presenters

Animal Biosecurity Branch / Biosecurity Animal Division

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 1

Outline
Australia’s biosecurity framework

Prawn review history

Risk analysis process

The final report

Prawn import conditions

Implementation of biosecurity measures

More information

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 2

Australia’s biosecurity framework
Commonwealth, state and territory
legislation

International obligations

• World Organisation for Animal Health

• World Trade Organization Agreement on the application of
sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS Agreement)

Policies (risk reviews/assessments)

Import conditions

Shared responsibilities

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 3

Prawn review history
 Was initiated after the 2016-17 White Spot Disease (WSD) outbreak in Queensland and the suspension
and resumption of trade in uncooked prawn imports in 2017.
 Is an examination of the 2009 prawn import risk analysis and new scientific information.
 Was subject to rigorous scientific review, extensive engagement and consultation, and opportunities for
views to be provided to the department.
 Makes recommendations about how prawns can be imported in a manner that achieves Australia’s
appropriate level of protection (ALOP), including consideration of the strengthened measures put in place
from 2017 to 2020. Conclude
Prawn
Review
Prawn
Suspension Commence Imports
Prawn Resume –
Review Stronger
Measures Stronger Stronger Stronger
Prawn IRA Qld WSD
Measures Measures NSW WSD Measures
Outbreak
Outbreak

2009 …Fisheries and Forestry

Department of Agriculture, 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
4
Risk analysis process

Click icon to add picture

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 5

The final report
Australia issued
Australia issued a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Notification
G/SPS/N/AUS/565 to the World Trade Organization SPS Committee to inform
SPS Notification
trading partners of the final report release and the proposed new biosecurity
G/SPS/N/AUS/565
measures for prawns and prawn products.

The final report:

 Confirms that the measures put in place in 2017 and periodically updated until 2020 manage the
biosecurity risks of imported prawns and proposes some additional biosecurity and assurance measures.
o These measures are supported by robust risk assessments.
o These measures manage risk to a level that achieves Australia’s ALOP.

 Considers all the science and brings it together into one place.
o 1,038 different publications are reviewed in the final report, including new scientific research the
department commissioned, collaborated on, or undertook to inform the prawn review.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 6
Prawn import conditions
Uncooked, Value-added Whole, Highlight =
Import condition peeled products Cooked uncooked strengthened import
prawns (BBC/dumpling)
condition applied
Freezing
    2017
Head and shell removal
    2018
Marinated prawns treated as uncooked, peeled prawns
    2020
Deveining
    2023
Batch tested and found post-processing (pre-export) to
be free of WSSV and YHV1.    
Batch tested and found on-arrival to be free of WSSV and
YHV1.    
Breaded, battered and crumbed – par cooked.
   
No discernible pieces of prawn.
   
Appear fully cooked and have achieved a core
temperature of at least 65°C during the cooking process.    
Free from all hazards listed in the final report.
   
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 7
Implementation of biosecurity measures

Release of final Advise final import

report for Stakeholder Consider
conditions and Health Certificate Implementation
comment period comments on
stakeholder ends import conditions
implementation negotiations date
date
comment.

5 June 4 August August August September 13 October

Timing confirmed Timing to be confirmed

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 8

More information
• WOAH Aquatic Animal Health Code (2022):
https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/standards/codes-and-manuals/aquatic-code-online-access
/
• Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry:
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/
• Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis (BIRA) guidelines:
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/guidelines
• Review of the biosecurity risks for prawns:
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/policy/risk-analysis/animal/prawns

• Australian Government's Biosecurity import conditions database - BICON:

https://bicon.agriculture.gov.au/BiconWeb4.0/

Department
Department of Agriculture, of Agriculture
Fisheries and Forestry and Water Resources 9 27 May 2019 9
Thank you

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 10