10 May 2010
Biosecurity Australia Advice 2010/13
Import risk analysis for the importation of beef and beef products from Japan
This Biosecurity Australia Advice (BAA) notifies stakeholders that Biosecurity Australia has invoked the ‘stop the clock’ provision for the import risk analysis (IRA) of beef and beef products intended for human consumption from Japan.
Under the Quarantine Regulations 2000, certain periods of time in the IRA process may be disregarded, such as where a significant international quarantine circumstance exists that limits Biosecurity Australia’s ability to complete an IRA. This action is being undertaken following confirmation of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in cattle in Japan, reported by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) on 20 April 2010.
Accordingly, until Japan regains its former FMD-free status, any time that elapses will not be considered as being within the regulated deadline for this IRA. A further BAA will be issued to notify stakeholders when the clock is restarted.
Biosecurity Australia Advice 2010/10 of 8 April 2010, announced the formal commencement of standard IRAs under the regulated process to consider the importation of beef and beef products from the United States, Canada and Japan. The IRAs to be completed within the 24-month period, include review by the Eminent Scientists Group (ESG), which is independent of Biosecurity Australia. These countries were all free from FMD at the time of the announcement.
On 20 April 2010, MAFF advised the detection of FMD in breeding cattle at a farm in Miyazaki Prefecture (on the eastern side of Kyushu Island, which is the most southern island of Japan). FMD is internationally recognised as a very serious disease of cloven hoofed animals and Australia has strict quarantine measures for FMD including not permitting the importation of fresh beef and beef products from any country affected with FMD.
The Quarantine Regulations 2000 contains the provision that certain periods of time may be disregarded in circumstances where delays are not attributable to Biosecurity Australia (Clause 69H). This is referred to as the ‘stop the clock’ provision in the Import Risk Analysis Handbook 2007 (updated 2009). The Chief Executive of Biosecurity Australia may choose to stop the clock where a significant national or international quarantine circumstance exists that limits Biosecurity Australia’s ability to complete an IRA within the time required under the regulations. The outbreak of FMD in Japan is considered an international quarantine circumstance. Therefore the decision has been made to ‘stop the clock’ on this IRA.
The clock will be restarted when Japan regains its former FMD-free status according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and following an evaluation by Australia.
A further BAA will be issued to notify stakeholders when the clock is restarted.
Biosecurity Australia will continue with the IRAs for beef and beef products from the United States and Canada.
Please pass this notice to other interested parties. If those parties wish to be included in future communications on this matter they should advise the contact officer. Alternatively, if you wish to be removed from the distribution list, please advise the contact officer.
[signed]
Dr Colin J Grant
Chief Executive
Contact officer: Dr Andrew Cupit
Telephone no.: +61 2 6272 3933
Facsimile no: +61 2 6272 3399