Joint Media Release

28 November 2003

The Minister for Trade Mark Vaile and Minister for Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Warren Truss

New US Requirements for Food Exporters

The Australian Government has been assured by the United States (US) that Australian exports will not be impeded during the initial implementation of new US food security regulations, Trade Minister Mark Vaile and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Warren Truss said today.

The US Bioterrorism Act, designed to protect the US food supply from bio-terrorist attacks, will come into effect on 12 December 2003. The legislation imposes additional administrative and compliance measures on all Australian companies exporting food for human and animal consumption to the United States, except meat, poultry and egg exports covered already under the US Department of Agriculture jurisdiction.

"The Australian Government has made suggestions to the US about how the new regulations can be implemented in ways that least disrupt trade," Mr Vaile said.

Mr Truss said: "Exporters of food to the US as well as other Australian businesses supplying these exporters must ensure they know how the requirements of the Bioterrorism Act will impact on them and what they will be required to do after 12 December 2003".

Enquiries should be directed to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) on 02 6272 5507 or through AUSTRADE on 13 28 78.

Further information is available on the websites of the US Food and Drug Administration, the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Austrade.

Contacts: Matthew Doman (Trade minister’s office) 02 6277 7420 - Tim Langmead (Mr Truss’s office) on 02 6277 7520