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Draft import risk analysis report for chicken meat
28 June 2006
BA06/01
Biosecurity Australia has today issued a draft import risk analysis (IRA) report assessing applications to import chicken meat to Australia.
The draft IRA report proposes that chicken meat could be allowed into Australia if exporting countries meet stringent risk management measures for the nine diseases of quarantine concern. These include avian influenza, Newcastle disease and infectious bursal disease.
The draft report proposes a combination of quarantine measures relating to the disease status of potential exporting countries. For most chicken-producing countries, such as European Union members and the United States, the product will need to be cooked at high temperatures for long periods. The proposed conditions also allow for country or zone disease freedom.
Australia presently has conditions governing the importation of cooked chicken meat. The conditions proposed in the current IRA leave these requirements unchanged.
The IRA responds to market access applications for chicken meat from a number of countries, including some members of the European Union, Brazil, China, Malaysia, Thailand and the USA. The report is not a decision to allow the importation of chicken meat, but a draft report seeking comment from stakeholders.
Australia takes a conservative approach to quarantine generally and therefore manages quarantine risks to a very low level. Biosecurity Australia undertakes science-based risk analyses to assess any quarantine risks associated with applications to import agricultural and other commodities to Australia.
These analyses are an important step towards keeping Australia free from pests and diseases that might be present in other countries. Risk management measures can be proposed to manage assessed quarantine risks to provide a high level of quarantine protection for Australia.
The draft import risk analysis report for chicken meat has been sent to stakeholders so that they can review it, be consulted about its content, and provide comments and submissions, particularly on scientific and technical issues.
Stakeholders have until 28 August 2006 to comment on the draft report.
Biosecurity Australia will take all submissions into account in preparing its final IRA report. An Eminent Scientists Group will review the final report to ensure stakeholders’ comments have been properly considered.
After allowing for an appeal process, the final report, together with recommendations for a quarantine policy determination, will be provided to Australia’s Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine for consideration.
The draft IRA report is available on Biosecurity Australia’s website: www.biosecurityaustralia.gov.au
Media Contact
John Wilson
Biosecurity Australia
02 6272 3811