30 June 2023
All first point of entry airport corporations, airlines, port operators, vessel agents and crew who interact with international aircraft and vessels arriving from Indonesia.
What has changed?
The outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Indonesia remains active. 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 the decision to continue the requirement for biosecurity response zones to be in place at designated international airports (those that receive direct flights from Indonesia) and all ports that are First Points of Entry under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
The Director of Biosecurity has signed new determinations, the Biosecurity (Biosecurity Response Zone for Foot and Mouth Disease – Relevant Landing Places) Determination 2023 and the Biosecurity (Biosecurity Response Zone for Foot and Mouth Disease – Relevant Ports) Determination 2023, which will commence on 1 July, replacing the current determinations which self-repeal on that date. The designation of biosecurity response zones beyond 30 June 2023 supports ongoing implementation of enhanced biosecurity measures at airports and ports to mitigate the risk of FMD entering Australia, including the deployment of sanitisation foot mats and footbaths.
What do you need to do?
There are no changes to the current sanitisation foot mat procedures or processes at international airports or seaports as a result of the new determinations. The parameters covering response zone powers of biosecurity officers, and the deployment and use of sanitisation foot mats and footbaths for passengers and crew arriving in Australia on direct fights or vessels from Indonesia, remain.
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.