23 September 2022
Who does this notice affect?
All first point of entry port operators, vessel agents and crew who interact with international vessels arriving from Indonesia.
What has changed?
There is currently an active outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Indonesia. FMD is a significant biosecurity threat to Australia which could cost $80 billion over several years if there is a widespread outbreak here in Australia.
To address the ongoing risk, the Director of Biosecurity has made a Determination to establish biosecurity response zones at international ports that are First Points of Entry under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
The Biosecurity (Biosecurity Response Zone for Foot and Mouth Disease—Relevant Ports) Determination 2022, supports enhanced biosecurity measures at ports to mitigate the risk of FMD entering Australia.
Footbaths have been used as a response measure at ports since early August, for any vessels arriving from Indonesia (IIAN 162-2022 refers). This measure is now being introduced for cruise vessel travellers arriving in Australia from Indonesia.
Sanitisation foot mats will be deployed in cruise terminals for use by travellers who are disembarking vessels arriving from Indonesia directly, or that have been in Indonesia during their voyage.
All persons disembarking the cruise vessel are to walk through the foot mats in footwear visibly free from organic material (that means footwear must be clean prior to the foot mats being used).
Biosecurity officers will manage the preparation, maintenance, placement, and use of the foot mats at cruise terminals.
An additional arrival biosecurity message is being provided to cruise vessel agents to alert passengers to the risk of FMD, and the requirement to use the sanitisation foot mats to treat the soles of their shoes when they leave the vessel.
The use of these sanitisation foot mats is in addition to all usual biosecurity requirements, including the requirement for passenger and crew to make declarations on arrival, and to leave all food onboard vessels.
What do you need to do?
Cruise vessels:
In line with the department’s pre-arrival requirements, as well as the additional FMD requirements, cruise vessel agents and crew must ensure all travellers are aware that foot mats will be required for use when disembarking the vessel. This can be done using the department’s approved FMD arrival announcement.
Vessels other than cruise vessels:
Vessel agents will continue to receive advice via the Maritime and Aircraft Reporting System (MARS) regarding the need to deploy footbaths for all vessels whose last port was in Indonesia.
All crew onboard these vessels must be made aware of the requirement to use the footbaths.
Further information
Contact the department’s travellers’ team via email travellers@aff.gov.au.
The latest information on FMD is published on the department’s website: Foot-and-mouth disease.