Date of issue: 19 July 2024
Date of effect: Immediate
Related MAAs: 2024-08, 2024-10, 2024-12, 2024-13, 2024-15, 2024-16, 2024-18, 2024-20, 2024-22, 2024-23
Attention
- Egg Exporters - Australian
- Egg Export establishments
- Licensed exporters
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Central and Regional offices
Purpose
This Market Access Advice (MAA) updates MAA 2024-23 issued on 19 July 2024 which provided information on certification changes as a result of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. This MAA also provides an update to import conditions for poultry meat and poultry products, including eggs, to Hong Kong.
Disease Situation
Australia is continuing to respond to outbreaks of HPAI (H7 strain), which was first detected on a property in Victoria on 22 May 2024. As of 18 July 2024, HPAI (H7 strain) has now been detected on poultry properties in Victoria; New South Wales; and the Australian Capital Territory. Further information, including current control areas, can be found on the following websites:
- For information relating to VIC: Victorian Government Agriculture Department website
- For information relating to NSW: NSW Government Department of Primary Industries website
- For information relating to the ACT: Avian Influenza - Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate - Environment (act.gov.au). For information additional information: Australian National Pest and Disease Outbreaks website
Certificate changes
Further to previous MAAs, some importing country requirements have changed in relation to HPAI. Please refer to bolded entries in Attachment 1 for certification that is now available via EXDOC and NEXDOC.
For exporters that apply for a health certificate for these products through the department’s EXDOC or NEXDOC system, the request for permit must include the following exporter declaration:
The products in this consignment comply with sourcing provisions that meet the specific importing country requirements for avian influenza. This declaration is supported by records.
For electronic certificates, this declaration will need to be made via EXDOC and NEXDOC.
Applications will be assessed based on all information and declarations provided. The department may need to seek further confirmation relating to this declaration before a certificate can be issued.
Important note prior to export: There are currently multiple control areas throughout Victoria, NSW and the ACT. More control areas may be established if there are further HPAI detections. It is the exporter’s responsibility to monitor and confirm controlled and restricted areas prior to export to ensure product meets importing country requirements. Information on current control areas can be found on the relevant state/territory government websites at the links provided above.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong has advised that poultry meat and poultry products, including eggs, from Australia are eligible for export to Hong Kong where these products are exported/sourced from outside of specified areas under ‘Avian Influenza (AI) suspension’, as determined by Hong Kong. The areas under Hong Kong’s AI suspension are included in the table below.
| AI Suspension Area | Suspension Date |
|---|---|
| State of Victoria 1) Golden Plains Shire 2) East Gippsland Shire 3) Gannawarra Shire 4) Corangamite Shire | 3 Aug 2020 (HPAI H7N7) 13 Aug 2020 (LPAI H5N2) 28 Aug 2020 (LPAI H7N6) 29 May 2024 (HPAI H7N9 |
| State of New South Wales 5) City of Hawkesbury | 21 June 2024 (HPAI H7N8) |
Australian Capital Territory
| 2 July 2024 (HPAI H7N8) |
Table 1: Hong Kong specified AI suspension areas and dates
The department is continuing to work closely with industry to prioritise negotiations with key poultry and poultry product markets to minimise further trade disruptions. The department continues to engage key markets through its agricultural counsellor network to expedite these discussions. Updates will be provided in future MAAs.
Further information
Contact exportstandards@aff.gov.au if you have any queries.
Download
Attachment 1 - Countries and products affected by occurrence of HPAI in Vic, NSW and ACT (PDF 336 KB)
Attachment 1 - Countries and products affected by occurrence of HPAI in Vic, NSW and ACT (DOCX 256 KB)
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
The information provided above is current at the time of writing and is intended for use as guidance only and should not be taken as definitive or exhaustive. The Commonwealth endeavours to keep information current and accurate, however, it may be subject to change without notice. Exporters are encouraged to verify these details with their importers prior to undertaking production/exports. The Commonwealth will not accept liability for any loss resulting from reliance on information contained in this notice.