31 October 2011
This Biosecurity Australia Advice (BAA) advises stakeholders that the department will commence a review of the Import Risk Analysis (IRA) Report for Horses from Approved Countries. Stakeholders are invited to provide submissions by 3 January 2012 for consideration as part of the review.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry will undertake a review of the Import Risk Analysis (IRA) Report for Horses from Approved Countries, released in March 2010. This review was foreshadowed in the Government's response to Recommendation 35 of the Equine Influenza Inquiry that the IRA would be reviewed every two years. The review will take into account relevant developments in scientific knowledge including testing methods, vaccines, vaccination procedures and biosecurity controls for horses imported into Australia.
In consultation with the Australian horse industry, the department's Animal Biosecurity Branch has identified a number of issues with Australia's current import conditions for horses that are based on the IRA. These include issues posed by current requirements for equine influenza (including pre-export quarantine, vaccines and testing), contagious equine metritis, testing of anoestrus female horses, equine viral arteritis requirements, and testing requirements for equine piroplasmosis.
Animal Biosecurity Branch invites submissions on specific issues with Australia's current horse import conditions. Issues for consideration in the review should be received in writing by Animal Biosecurity before 3 January 2012. Submissions should include a scientific basis for any proposed changes to Australia's horse import policy.
Submissions should be received by 3 January 2012 and directed to:
Animal Biosecurity
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Telephone: +61 2 6272 4465
Facsimile: +61 2 6272 3399
Email:
Animal
Please pass this notice to other interested parties. If those parties wish to be included in future communications on this matter they should contact Animal Biosecurity.
Confidentiality
Stakeholders are advised that, subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Privacy Act 1988, all submissions received in response to Biosecurity Australia Advices will be publicly available and may be listed or referred to in any papers or reports prepared on the subject matter.
The Commonwealth reserves the right to reveal the identity of a respondent unless a request for anonymity accompanies the submission. Where a request for anonymity does not accompany the submission the respondent will be taken to have consented to the disclosure of his or her identity for the purposes of Information Privacy Principle 11 of the Privacy Act. The contents of the submission will only be treated as confidential if they are marked 'confidential' and they can be classified as such in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
Andrew Cupit
A/g General Manager
Animal Biosecurity