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High Court rejects pig meat appeal
18 November 2005
DAFF05/10D
The High Court today refused to grant Australian Pork Limited special leave to appeal an earlier Full Federal Court decision in favour of the Director of Quarantine relating to the importation of pig meat into Australia.
The High Court’s decision brings an end to APL's legal challenge to the granting of permits to import pig meat into Australia. Pig meat can therefore continue to be imported to Australia under stringent quarantine conditions intended to manage the risk from exotic diseases. Pig meat has been imported to Australia since 1990.
In September this year, the Full Federal Court found that permits to import pig meat were legal and the analysis undertaken to determine the risks associated with imports of pig meat was comprehensive, science-based and rational.
“The High Court decision provides certainty and clarity in relation to existing trade and future permit applications for pig meat imports for all parties, including producers, manufacturers, importers and trading partners,” the Director of Quarantine, Joanna Hewitt, said today.
“However, while the court process has concluded, the Department accepts that there has been some learning for it through the course of the legal proceedings. It acknowledges that the import risk analysis process is complex and some aspects are not easily understood.
“For this reason, the outcomes and relevant issues raised in the earlier Federal Court proceedings will continue to be reviewed in order to improve the system, to assist industry and other stakeholders to better understand and support the IRA process,” Ms Hewitt said.
Australia has a long history of managing pests, diseases and weeds that potentially impact on our animal, plant and aquatic industries. We have developed one of the best biosecurity systems in the world.
Australia remains committed to a rigorous science-based approach to quarantine and protection from exotic pests and diseases of Australia’s important agriculture industries.
Further inquiries:
David Finlayson (02) 6272 5234 or 0414 266 256