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Adelaide Quarantine - in step with foot and mouth and increasing international arrivals
2 May 2001
AQIS Adelaide is strengthening its protection of Australia from potentially devastating diseases like foot and mouth (FMD) in the face of an eight per cent increase in international airport arrivals over the past year, according to Regional Manager, Robert Langlands.
Over the last week, AQIS's enhanced FMD-related quarantine activities at Adelaide international airport included:
- processing approximately 1120 passengers who meet an FMD profile, including all agricultural industry workers, backpackers and anyone who has visited a non-metropolitan area in a country where FMD is endemic;
- seizing some 440 prohibited items; and
- arranging disinfections of contaminated clothing or footwear from about 370 passengers.
"Adelaide AQIS has employed more resources to help protect Australia from FMD since its outbreak in the United Kingdom early this year. We have allocated the equivalent of four extra full-time employees, and we are distributing information to all outgoing and incoming international passengers. We are on absolute red alert.
"AQIS has kept FMD out of Australia for almost 130 years and we're determined to keep it that way for at least another 130," Mr Langlands said.
Robert Langlands was speaking during National Quarantine Week, designed to remind people of the important role they can play in protecting Australia from exotic pest and disease risks, such as FMD.
Independent of the increased activity because of FMD, Adelaide airport quarantine seizures have increased by about 17 per cent since April 2000.
"Over the last year, the incidence of quarantine seizures involving undeclared items was significantly higher - about 28 per cent more - than the previous year," Mr Langlands said, "which signifies our focus on reducing leakage through our borders. That is, we're targeting travellers who simply forget to declare, as well as those who deliberately do not declare.
"Leakage of prohibited items through the Green Channel is at its lowest level in five years.
"AQIS's risk management procedures are being continually improved with staff being allocated to areas where they are most needed. For example, since December 2000 extra AQIS staff, in addition to our detector dog team, are present in airport baggage halls to further help passengers," Mr Langlands said.
National Quarantine Week, 30 April - 6 May 2001
Further information:
Contact: Robert Langlands
Phone: 08 8305 9731