Trade Focus 
Australia refines its food safety rules for imported beef and beef products
Australia is adjusting its imported food policy settings regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) for beef and beef products. The changes follow a review of current settings and will come into effect from 1 March, 2010.
A report by Professor John Mathews concludes that the risk to human health from imported beef remains extremely low, provided the appropriate risk mitigation strategies are put in place.
Until now, under our World Trade Organization obligations, if there were a case of BSE in any part of Australia the current policy would require all Australian beef to be removed from the shelves. The new policy provides a better outcome for both our domestic and export industry allowing a more sensible risk-based regional response to be made.
Given Australia’s strongly competitive position in domestic and export markets for beef, it is not anticipated that the new rules will lead to any significant increased level of beef imports into Australia. more...
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