Date of issue: 14 February 2025
Date of effect: Immediate
Reference Number: MAA 2025-04
Related MAAs: 2024-08, 2024-10, 2024-12, 2024-13, 2024-15, 2024-16, 2024-18, 2024-20, 2024-22, 2024-25, 2024-26, MAA 2024-29, MAA 2024-30, MAA 2024-32, MAA 2024-35, MAA 2024-40, 2024-47, 2025-03
Attention
- Egg Exporters - Australian
- Egg Export establishments
- Exporters, AEPI and NEXDOC users
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Central and Regional offices
This Market Access Advice (MAA) updates MAA 2025-03 issued on 12 February 2025 which provided information on an outbreak of H7 High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Victoria. This MAA provides an update on the disease situation and information on certification changes, including updated import conditions for export of poultry and poultry products to Singapore. Please note, Australia remains free from H5 HPAI.
Disease situation
On 13 February 2025, the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness confirmed a second high pathogenicity H7N8 detection. This second detection is linked to initial infected premises and is within the current restricted area in the Strathbogie Shire and does not change the current control area settings.
Information on the restricted and control area established around the infected premises can be found on the Agriculture Victoria website here: https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/animal-diseases/poultry-diseases/avian-influenza-bird-flu.
Despite this new detection, the department can advise that that all infected premises and Control Areas associated with the 2024 outbreaks of HPAI in Victoria, NSW and ACT are resolved in accordance with WOAH international standards. WOAH final reports for these 2024 outbreaks can be found here:
- H7N3 https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-event/5683/dashboard
- H7N9 https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-event/5687/dashboard
- H7N8 https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-event/5720/dashboard
Market updates
Singapore
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has confirmed that all 2024 HPAI Control Areas in Victoria, NSW and ACT are resolved as of 14 February 2025, and that trade of poultry and poultry products can resume from these areas.
The SFA has also confirmed the following arrangements for the export of poultry and poultry products (including eggs) with relation to any Control Areas associated with the 2025 HPAI outbreak:
For all poultry and poultry products (including eggs) that are sourced from outside Control Areas, exports can commence without slaughter/export date restrictions.
For all poultry and poultry products (including eggs) that are sourced from within Control Areas exporters must ensure that product complies with the slaughter and export dates for the relevant Control Area. The slaughter and export dates for the current Control Area in Victoria (Euroa, Strathbogie Shire) are 25 January 2025 and 8 February 2025 respectively. Up to date information on the location of Control Areas can be found on the Victorian Government Agriculture Department website.
Please note that heat-treated poultry products which comply with WOAH guidelines for inactivation of AI virus are not subjected to the suspension.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea’s National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority (NAQIA) has acknowledged that the 2024 HPAI Control Areas in Victoria, NSW and ACT have been resolved and that trade in heat treated poultry products and chicken for mechanically deboned meat may resume from these areas.
NAQIA has also acknowledged the 2025 HPAI outbreak and confirmed that heat treated poultry products and chicken for mechanically deboned meat from outside any new Control Areas associated with the 2025 HPAI outbreak can continue, provided a valid import permit is obtained. All other export certificates for poultry meat, meat products, and eggs to Papua New Guinea remain unavailable from all of Australia.
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, which include the previous Shires from the 2024 HPAI outbreak, and the Strathbogie Shire in response to the 2025 HPAI outbreak, are included in the table below. The department is confirming the suspension date for the new affected area with Hong Kong. The department is also seeking clarification around the possibility of lifting restrictions imposed from the 2024 HPAI outbreak, and we will update this information in a future MAA.
| AI Suspension Area | Suspension Date |
|---|---|
| State of Victoria | |
| 1. Golden Plains Shire | 3 Aug 2020 (HPAI H7N7) |
| 2. East Gippsland Shire | 13 Aug 2020 (LPAI H5N2) |
| 3. Gannawarra Shire | 28 Aug 2020 (LPAI H7N6) |
| 4. Corangamite Shire | 29 May 2024 (HPAI H7N9) |
| 5. Strathbogie Shire | TBA (HPAI H7N8) |
| State of New South Wales | |
| 5. City of Hawkesbury | 21 June 2024 (HPAI H7N8) |
| Australian Capital Territory | |
| 6. Canberra | 2 July 2024 (HPAI H7N8) |
Table 1: Hong Kong specified AI suspension areas and dates
Certification changes
As a result of the new HPAI detection in Victoria, the department has reviewed health certification against importing country requirements and existing certificate attestations for all avian and avian products, including poultry meat and meat products, eggs and egg products and inedible products. While an emergency animal disease response is underway for HPAI, the department is aware that some these products are unlikely to be able to meet importing countries’ requirements. This is because Australia’s HPAI status has changed and emergency animal disease responses are ongoing.
Affected certificates and products are outlined in the table provided at Attachment 1, updates from the previous MAA are bolded.
The department notes that product sourced from other species may also be affected. Where exporters consider their product meets importing country requirements, they may contact the department via the EXDOC Help Desk by emailing exdoc.helpdesk@aff.gov.au (for meat and inedible meat products), or nexdoc@aff.gov.au (for eggs, skins and hides) to discuss the process for applying for certification. For example, this may be where slaughter/packing dates predate 20 January 2025 (one incubation period prior to date of 3 February 2025 (day 0)) for particular markets. Exporters will need to contact exdoc.helpdesk@aff.gov.au to discuss certification for impacted certificates for meat and inedibles and nexdoc@aff.gov.au for eggs, skins and hides.
The department is continuing to work closely with trading partners to advise of the new detection and will be looking to reinstate trade with priority markets as soon as possible. Updates will be provided in future Market Access Advice notifications.
For exporters that apply for health certificates that have specific sourcing provisions, the following exporter declaration must be included in your application through the department’s Export Documentation (EXDOC) system, Next Export Documentation (NEXDOC) system or when making a manual application via Assessment Services or the EXDOC/NEXDOC Helpdesk:
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.
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: It is the exporter’s responsibility to monitor and confirm control and restricted areas prior to export to ensure product meets importing country requirements. Changes to the Control Area or additional Control Areas may be established if there are further HPAI detections. It is the exporter’s responsibility to monitor and confirm control 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.
Distressed and detained consignments
Exporters should note that product recently exported on affected health certificates that have not arrived at the port of entry and cleared customs are at commercial risk. Exporters should work with their importer to ensure importing country requirements can be met prior to applying for export certification to manage commercial risk.
To assist with information management, exporters and establishments are requested to direct all enquires to the department about the effect of this HPAI incident on exports through their relevant peak industry body, where possible.
If you are aware that you have a consignment that is already in transit and is likely to be detained, or your consignment is currently detained, please contact exportstandards@aff.gov.au with the following information:
- Destination country
- Exporter (name/company)
- Consignee (name/company)
- RFP, REX number and issue date
- Import permit number and issue date
- Container number
- Seal number and seal date
- Product description
- Slaughter / packing dates
- Establishment name / number
- Establishment address
- Departure Date
- Health certificate number
- Official documentation from trading partner confirming details of the detainment
- Confirmation of where the product was sourced
- Any other relevant information
Returned product
The department is also aware that some goods will need to be returned to Australia. The department has detailed advice on returned meat and meat products on its website. If you require further assistance, please contact returnedexportfood@aff.gov.au.
If the goods being returned are eggs, contact the Dairy, Eggs and Fish Program at dairyeggsfish@aff.gov.au.
Exporters should be aware that trading partners may impose bans on avian and other products sourced from the affected region, the state of Victoria or Australia despite, or in addition to, current health certificate requirements. As was the case with previous HPAI incidents, the department will take all possible action to minimise the effects of this disease incident on trade and will publish regular updates to keep industry informed of further developments.
The Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) will be updated to reflect this Market Access Advice. The department encourages users of Micor to subscribe to the Micor update service for a commodity-specific email that lists changes that have been made in the preceding week.
The department encourages all exporters to work with their importer to ensure that product meets the current importing country requirements.
Download
Attachment 1 – countries and products affected by occurrence of high pathogenicity avian influenza (PDF 498 KB)
Attachment 1 – countries and products affected by occurrence of high pathogenicity avian influenza (DOCX 278 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.