Fresh (chilled or frozen) beef and beef products for human consumption

Review of the risk of lumpy skin disease in fresh beef

We have completed our review of the risk of lumpy skin disease in fresh (chilled and frozen) skeletal muscle meat derived from bovines, imported from approved countries.

Steps to complete this risk analysis

When we do a risk analysis, we:

• review the science on pests and diseases of concern
• assess and analyse biosecurity risks
• develop proposed risk management measures
• consult stakeholders on the draft report and then review comments
• publish a final report
• develop import conditions
• publish import conditions in our Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON).

Learn more about why we carry out risk analyses and our international obligations.

About the final report

Prompted by significant changes in the global distribution of lumpy skin disease (LSD) since the previous beef review was published in 2017, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) conducted a further review of the risk of LSD as a possible hazard that may be transmitted by fresh beef imported to Australia from approved countries.

We reviewed the accuracy of existing science concerning the distribution of the LSD virus in bovine tissues and appropriate risk management of the biosecurity risk. The final report took account of all comments received during a public consultation process. It found the overall risk of LSD associated with the import of fresh bovine skeletal muscle meat for human consumption, if produced in accordance with relevant Australian standards, was very low and achieves Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP) with respect to animal biosecurity risk associated with that agent. However, the evidence assessed during the review did not support that the level of LSD risk associated with the importation of other bovine-derived carcase tissues was within Australia’s ALOP.

The findings conclude that the overall risk of LSD associated with the import of fresh bovine skeletal muscle meat for human consumption is very low and that specific biosecurity risk management measures are not justified for LSD where beef derived exclusively from bovine skeletal muscle meat is imported for human consumption into Australia from approved countries. All imports must continue to meet the agreed biosecurity import conditions.

This final report is published as an addendum to the 2017 biosecurity report, Fresh (chilled or frozen) beef and beef products from Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United States and Vanuatu (the beef review). It takes into account available scientific evidence along with relevant standards, processes, production methods, inspection, sampling and testing procedures.

Fresh (chilled or frozen) beef and beef products from Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United States and Vanuatu – Final Review 2017

In 2017, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry completed a review of biosecurity import conditions for fresh (chilled or frozen) beef and beef products from Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United States and Vanuatu.​

The final report concluded that imports of fresh beef and beef products from the applicant countries - Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United States and Vanuatu - would be permitted subject to compliance with specified risk management measures.

Establishments in the applicant countries must operate Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Quality Assurance plans (HACCP-based QA plans) and verify their effectiveness via a bacteriological testing program equivalent to that undertaken in Australia, in accordance with relevant Australian standards.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand has responsibility for the food safety risks associated with the proposed import, including the following foodborne hazards: shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC), Salmonella spp. (including Salmonella Typhimurium DT104) and Campylobacter spp.