13 September 2019
Who does this notice affect?
This notice is relevant to importers and retailers of the following affected products imported from New Zealand into Australia and Norfolk Island. Products not listed below are not affected and may be imported subject to existing conditions.
- Chicken meat and chicken meat products;
- Dry, semi-moist and heat processed pet food containing poultry or egg ingredients; and
- Whole shell-on eggs
What has changed?
The Department of Agriculture (the Department) received notification from New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries of the detection of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) in New Zealand that may be a threat to the Australian poultry industry and environment.
Until further information is known about the particular IBDV strain in New Zealand the department will not allow imports of affected product unless strengthened import conditions are met.
For Chicken meat and chicken meat products:
- Product must now be a heat treated to a minimum core temperature of 80°C for not less than 125 minutes or equivalent
- The official government health certification must state that the product has undergone this heat treatment
- All other existing import conditions must be met
For dry, semi-moist and heat processed pet food containing poultry or egg ingredients (excluding retorted pet foods):
- Product must now be a heat treated to a minimum core temperature of 100°C for not less than 30 minutes or equivalent
- The official government health certification must state that the product has undergone this heat treatment
- All other existing import conditions must be met
Whole eggs:
- Whole shell-on eggs are not permitted under the current arrangements. Importers of these products may import shell-off eggs, provided they meet existing import conditions
- All other existing import conditions must be met
The strengthened conditions apply to any products manufactured on or after 20 May 2019. Product manufactured before the 20 May 2019 may be imported subject to existing requirements.
The department will also change import permits to reflect the strengthened conditions. The department will contact individual permit holders shortly with specific information for their products and import permits.
If importers have at-risk goods that have arrived and have not been cleared, or are on the water (i.e. on the way to Australia), then they should advise the department as soon as possible. The department will work with importers to ensure individual consignments on the water that meet the import conditions are released from biosecurity control.
Further 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.