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Notice to Industry 5/2009 - Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)

This notice is to inform industry of increased measures which have been implemented by AQIS following a confirmed outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Taiwan. The current outbreak is believed to have started on 4 February 2009.

Increased quarantine measures

Increased quarantine measures are now in place for a range of import pathways. These measures will apply to all affected products produced in Taiwan from 7 January 2009 onwards, in order to account for the incubation period of the disease. It should be noted that Australia does not import unprocessed meat products from Taiwan—therefore there is no direct risk to the country's livestock industries.

Goods

Import Permits and applications for all affected products will be reviewed and assessed by AQIS. If increased quarantine measures are considered appropriate, or if imports must be suspended, then Import Permits will be varied or suspended as appropriate. All affected businesses will be informed of changes affecting their permits.

Import permits for the following products have been varied as existing treatments or import conditions are insufficient to manage the risk associated with FMD:

  • lightly processed cheeses
  • milk products with more than 10 per cent dairy content (e.g. yoghurt, fresh milk, powdered milk)
  • semen and embryos from FMD-susceptible species, and
  • biological products produced from FMD-susceptible species (e.g. veterinary and human pharmaceuticals, laboratory reagents).

Imports of the following products may be allowed on a case by case basis, depending on whether processing or treatment is sufficient to manage the risk associated with FMD:

  • processed meat or dairy products (e.g. shelf stable hermetically sealed/retorted meat and dairy products, chocolate and confectionery, some highly processed cheeses)
  • biological products from non-susceptible species
  • processed canned and dried pet food
  • scoured wool, animal hair and leather products
  • new and used saddles, harnesses and tack, and
  • second hand farming equipment.
Passengers
  • Passengers arriving from Taiwan will be subject to increased vigilance by AQIS officers.
  • Passengers are reminded that they must declare all goods of quarantine concern on their Incoming Passenger Card and present the goods to an AQIS officer for inspection.
  • Passengers must declare if they have visited rural areas in Taiwan. Footwear worn in rural areas will be inspected and treated as required.
Further information

Further information regarding travel to Australia is available from the AQIS website.