import restrictions on cheese in june 1998 switzerland reported that without advance notice new zealand and australia had stopped imports of hard cheeses made from unpasteurized milk on the grounds that they did not meet the sanitary requirements. australia and new zealand responded that the relevant import measure required inactivation of pathogenic organisms. this measure had been put in place before 1 january 1995 and therefore not been notified but compliance had recently been reinforced. anzfa was evaluating the applications received from switzerland and the european communities. in november 1998 the european communities requested australia to identify the international standard on which its import ban on roquefort cheese was based or to provide scientific justification and a risk assessment. australia responded that its food standards required all cheese to be made from pasteurized milk or milk that had undergone an equivalent process. australias risk assessment on roquefort cheese had identified potential problems with pathogenic micro-organisms in particular entero-hemorrhagic e-coli. further data from the roquefort manufacturers had been received and were being evaluated. in addition to food safety assessments roquefort cheese was being evaluated for risks to animal health. draft revised import conditions would be notified soon and comments solicited. a final decision was likely in the first quarter of 1999 on both food safety and animal health aspects. in march 1999 switzerland asked about the progress of anzfas procedures. australia responded that anzfa had conducted a risk assessment. the documentation would be published on 17 march 1999 for public comment after which a final recommendation would be made. swiss officials in canberra would be briefed on 16 march 1999. regarding ec concerns australia reported that according to a risk assessment initiated by the australia new zealand food authority anzfa french roquefort did not comply with australian requirements. french officials in canberra would be briefed on the issue. in november 2000 switzerland reported that a mutually satisfactory solution had been found