3 May 2023
We invite you to comment on the draft review by Monday 3 July 2023.
The draft report is available for review and comment on our Have Your Say website.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has conducted a policy review of the Australian import conditions for whole egg, egg yolk, and egg white powder.
As a part of the review, the department engaged CSIRO to produce a report on the two most important biosecurity hazards associated with the import of egg powders, avian influenza viruses and avian orthoavulavirus-1 (often referred to as Newcastle disease virus). The report examined the scientific literature on these viruses with regards to survival in egg powders, inactivation of the viruses in egg powders and other media, and other factors involved in the production of egg powders that may mitigate biosecurity risk. The report also includes reference to new and relevant peer-reviewed scientific information, advice from scientific experts, and relevant industry practices. Following this report, the department conducted an internal review of the current heat treatment requirements for imported egg powders, finding that revising heat treatment requirements to be closer to standard industry practices, continued to manage the biosecurity risks to meet Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP).
This review recommends the existing import conditions be amended to include the following new heat treatment requirements as alternative options to the existing heat treatment requirements:
Whole egg and egg yolk powder conditions:
- Require heat treatment of the product by:
- Pasteurisation of liquid whole egg and egg yolk for a minimum of 65°C for 6 minutes.
Egg white powder conditions:
- Require heat treatment of the product after spray-drying by ‘hot-boxing’ for a minimum of 65°C for 5 days.
The draft review report and the CSIRO report are now available on our website. There will be a 60-day period for stakeholders to comment on the draft review commencing Wednesday 3 May 2023 through the Have Your Say page.
After stakeholder comments are considered, a final report will be produced.
To receive information and updates on biosecurity risk analyses subscribe to Biosecurity Risk Analysis Animal on the department’s website. Subscribers will receive biosecurity advice notices and other notifications about animal biosecurity policy.
Dr Peter Finnin
Assistant Secretary
Animal Biosecurity
Email animalbiosecurity@aff.gov.au