19 September 2018
Who does this notice affect?
This notice is of interest to importers, associated industry participants and retailers of pig related goods. This includes pig meat for human consumption, laboratory goods containing pig material (e.g. animal fluids and tissues, culture media), plant-based stock feeds, and pet food manufactured using material sourced from Japanese pigs.
What has changed?
On 10 September 2018, the Department of Agriculture identified multiple international media sources that reported an outbreak of Classical Swine Fever (CSF) in farmed pigs in Japan. On 11 September 2018 an official OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) notification was published confirming the reports in the media.
CSF is not present in Australia. An incursion of CSF in Australia would have significant impacts on pig health and production. In addition, our access to economically important international markets would be compromised. Eradication of CSF would be very difficult and costly. CSF spreads easily by direct contact between pigs or indirectly by contaminated items. It can also be spread through meat from infected animals.
As a result of the outbreak of CSF, the department is putting in place new measures to reduce the risk of introducing CSF into Australia. These changes will affect goods containing pig material from Japan that were exported on or after 6 August 2018. Products with existing import conditions that adequately manage CSF risk are not affected.
Affected goods with a documented final/master Bill of Lading date at the port of origin of 6 August 2018 or later are not permitted to be imported into Australia. If these goods are imported to Australia, they will be required to be exported or destroyed at the importer’s expense.
Import permit holders affected by the outbreak will be contacted by the department.
Contact information
If you require further information, please call 1800 900 090 or email Imports.
Import conditions are available on the department’s Biosecurity Import Conditions database (BICON).