Import Conditions Database - ICON

Notice to AQIS Staff, Importers and Brokers:

Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in Japan

Australia has been notified that Japan confirmed an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

FMD is not present in Australia and the introduction of this disease would have serious economic consequences for Australia’s livestock industry. All cloven-hoofed animals (ungulates) are susceptible to FMD and include; cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, water buffalo, camel, bison, African buffalo, deer, antelope, reindeer, moose, llama, alpaca, vicuna, chamois, giraffe, wild boar, bush pig and warthog.

Please note that Australia does not import any live animal species that are susceptible to foot and mouth disease from Japan.

As a result of the outbreak, a number of commodities derived from FMD susceptible species from Japan will no longer meet current import requirements and therefore will be considered to pose a quarantine risk. Commodities that are likely to be most affected are dairy products, or products containing dairy ingredients, laboratory products and un-retorted animal feeds.

AQIS is undertaking measures to reduce the risk of introducing FMD into Australia. For commodities of concern the application of these measures will be based on a period of 28 days prior to the first known date of suspicion of the occurrence of FMD in the outbreak, that is products manufactured or produced on or after 10 March 2010. High risk items will not be permitted entry and variation of import permits will be made. For other risk items case by case assessment and subsequent import permit variation may be required where there are existing conditions to manage the FMD quarantine risk from Japan.

Consignments containing items manufactured prior to 10 March 2010 will continue to be cleared provided they are clearly marked or accompanied by documentation indicating that they were manufactured prior to 10 March 2010.

The importation of certain types of animal and animal products are not permitted entry

The goods listed below that have been manufactured and exported from Japan on or after 10 March 2010 can not be imported until further notice.

- Lightly processed cheeses;

- Milk products with more then 10% dairy content (including yoghurt, fresh milk, powdered milk);

- Semen and embryos from FMD susceptible animals

- Biological products produced from FMD-susceptible species (veterinary and human pharmaceuticals, laboratory reagents)

Case by case assessment of animal and animal products

Import Permit applications, where needed for the following types of products, will need to be assessed by AQIS prior to importation. Other goods not normally subject to permits will also need to be referred to the relevant existing ICON case for individual assessments:

- Processed meat and dairy products (eg prepared meals^*, shelf stable/hermetically sealed/retorted meat and dairy products, flavours, infant formula, chocolate and confectionary, some highly processed cheeses;

- Biological products from non susceptible species (veterinary and human pharmaceuticals, laboratory agents);

- Canned and dried pet food;

- Scoured wool;

- Scoured animal hair and leather and products;

- New and used saddles, harness and tack;

- Second hand farming equipment used in rural areas;

- Live animals.

^{*Prepared meals must be retorted in a process equivalent to 100°C for
30 minutes}

Imports of dried milk powder and processed cheese

Personal consignments of infant formula from Japan are still permitted for import.

Highly processed cheese can still be imported if the following conditions are met and are accompanied by a valid import permit:

- The milk used to make the cheese has been pasteurised (72°C for 15 seconds) and the cheese is stored for 30 days at or below pH6; or

- The milk used to make the cheese has not been pasteurised and the cheese is stored for 120 days at or below pH6.

Increased vigilance

All personal effects require inspection on arrival by AQIS. Increased vigilance will apply to all personal effects from Japan with particular attention being given to shoes, outdoor sporting and leisure equipment and garden tools/ornaments. Any soil found will result in the cleaning of these items at the expense of the owner.

Goods currently in transit

Affected goods from Japan currently in transit are excluded from these conditions if they were processed or manufactured prior to 10 March 2010.

Affected goods processed or manufactured on or after 10 March 2010 are to be held at an appropriate class of Quarantine Approved Premises (QAP) until the goods can be assessed.

- QAP Class 1 for shelf stable food, pet food, skins, saddles and tack;

- QAP Class 2.5 for food requiring refrigeration;

- QAP Class 5 for laboratory agents;

- Quarantine Stations for live animals.

Affected goods that can not meet the varied import requirements may need to be re-exported or destroyed.

For further information please contact

Biological Imports Program - Food and food products, laboratory agents and animal derived products (excluding reproductive material):
Phone: (02) 6272 4578
Fax: (02) 6249 1798
Email: biologicals@aqis.gov.au

Live Animal Imports – Imports of animals
Phone: (02) 6272 4454
Fax: (02) 6272 3110
Email: animalimp@aqis.gov.au

Machinery imports
Phone: (07) 3246 8706
Fax: (07) 3246 8785
Email: aqis.machinery@aqis.gov.au

	The information here covers AQIS quarantine requirements only and is current on the date of transmission but may change without notice. AQIS makes no warranties or representations with respect to the accuracy or completeness of that information and will bear no liability with respect to that information. Importers must satisfy quarantine concerns and comply with quarantine conditions applicable at the time of entry. The Commonwealth through AQIS is not liable for any costs arising from or associated with decisions of importers to import based on conditions presented here which are not current at the time of importation. It is the importer’s responsibility to verify the accuracy and completeness of the information at the time of importation. It is the importer’s responsibility to identify and to ensure it has complied with, all requirements of any other regulatory and advisory bodies prior to and after importation including the Australian Customs Service, Therapeutic Goods Administration, Department of Health and Ageing, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority and any State agencies such as Departments of Agriculture and Health and Environmental Protection authorities. Importers should note that this list is not exhaustive. Importers should also note that all foods imported into Australia must comply with the provisions of the Imported Food Control Act 1992 , an Act which is administered by AQIS. Notification of the import must be provided to AQIS for all imported goods other than goods imported as accompanied baggage or goods imported via the mail and not prescribed under the Customs Act 1901. Notification must be consistent with Quarantine Regulations 2000 (examples include a Quarantine Entry or a Quarantine declaration).

	Public Quarantine Alert PQA0662

	Notice to AQIS Staff, Importers and Brokers: Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in Japan Australia has been notified that Japan confirmed an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). FMD is not present in Australia and the introduction of this disease would have serious economic consequences for Australia’s livestock industry. All cloven-hoofed animals (ungulates) are susceptible to FMD and include; cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, water buffalo, camel, bison, African buffalo, deer, antelope, reindeer, moose, llama, alpaca, vicuna, chamois, giraffe, wild boar, bush pig and warthog. Please note that Australia does not import any live animal species that are susceptible to foot and mouth disease from Japan. As a result of the outbreak, a number of commodities derived from FMD susceptible species from Japan will no longer meet current import requirements and therefore will be considered to pose a quarantine risk. Commodities that are likely to be most affected are dairy products, or products containing dairy ingredients, laboratory products and un-retorted animal feeds. AQIS is undertaking measures to reduce the risk of introducing FMD into Australia. For commodities of concern the application of these measures will be based on a period of 28 days prior to the first known date of suspicion of the occurrence of FMD in the outbreak, that is products manufactured or produced on or after 10 March 2010. High risk items will not be permitted entry and variation of import permits will be made. For other risk items case by case assessment and subsequent import permit variation may be required where there are existing conditions to manage the FMD quarantine risk from Japan. Consignments containing items manufactured prior to 10 March 2010 will continue to be cleared provided they are clearly marked or accompanied by documentation indicating that they were manufactured prior to 10 March 2010. The importation of certain types of animal and animal products are not permitted entry The goods listed below that have been manufactured and exported from Japan on or after 10 March 2010 can not be imported until further notice. - Lightly processed cheeses; - Milk products with more then 10% dairy content (including yoghurt, fresh milk, powdered milk); - Semen and embryos from FMD susceptible animals - Biological products produced from FMD-susceptible species (veterinary and human pharmaceuticals, laboratory reagents) Case by case assessment of animal and animal products Import Permit applications, where needed for the following types of products, will need to be assessed by AQIS prior to importation. Other goods not normally subject to permits will also need to be referred to the relevant existing ICON case for individual assessments: - Processed meat and dairy products (eg prepared meals^, shelf stable/hermetically sealed/retorted meat and dairy products, flavours, infant formula, chocolate and confectionary, some highly processed cheeses; - Biological products from non susceptible species (veterinary and human pharmaceuticals, laboratory agents); - Canned and dried pet food; - Scoured wool; - Scoured animal hair and leather and products; - New and used saddles, harness and tack; - Second hand farming equipment used in rural areas; - Live animals. ^{Prepared meals must be retorted in a process equivalent to 100°C for 30 minutes} Imports of dried milk powder and processed cheese Personal consignments of infant formula from Japan are still permitted for import. Highly processed cheese can still be imported if the following conditions are met and are accompanied by a valid import permit: - The milk used to make the cheese has been pasteurised (72°C for 15 seconds) and the cheese is stored for 30 days at or below pH6; or - The milk used to make the cheese has not been pasteurised and the cheese is stored for 120 days at or below pH6. Increased vigilance All personal effects require inspection on arrival by AQIS. Increased vigilance will apply to all personal effects from Japan with particular attention being given to shoes, outdoor sporting and leisure equipment and garden tools/ornaments. Any soil found will result in the cleaning of these items at the expense of the owner. Goods currently in transit Affected goods from Japan currently in transit are excluded from these conditions if they were processed or manufactured prior to 10 March 2010. Affected goods processed or manufactured on or after 10 March 2010 are to be held at an appropriate class of Quarantine Approved Premises (QAP) until the goods can be assessed. - QAP Class 1 for shelf stable food, pet food, skins, saddles and tack; - QAP Class 2.5 for food requiring refrigeration; - QAP Class 5 for laboratory agents; - Quarantine Stations for live animals. Affected goods that can not meet the varied import requirements may need to be re-exported or destroyed. For further information please contact Biological Imports Program - Food and food products, laboratory agents and animal derived products (excluding reproductive material): Phone: (02) 6272 4578 Fax: (02) 6249 1798 Email: biologicals@aqis.gov.au Live Animal Imports – Imports of animals Phone: (02) 6272 4454 Fax: (02) 6272 3110 Email: animalimp@aqis.gov.au Machinery imports Phone: (07) 3246 8706 Fax: (07) 3246 8785 Email: aqis.machinery@aqis.gov.au