Alerts

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the department) would like to inform departmental staff, importers and industry of situational changes for the import of untanned animal hides and skins.

As of 17 March 2020, there are no facilities that have entered into an approved arrangement with the department to process untanned animal hides and skins to mitigate biosecurity risks in accordance with Australia’s appropriate level of protection. As such, permit holders are no longer able to manage the biosecurity risks associated with importing this commodity.

Permits will be suspended for the following commodities that require goods to be sent to a class 3.0 approved arrangement site (tannery) until 8 November 2020 or a new class 3.0 tannery enters into an arrangement with the department:

• Untanned hides and skins derived from a country free of exotic diseases of major biosecurity concern relevant to the animal species (excluding New Zealand)
  

• Partially processed avian skins from all countries excluding New Zealand
  

• Partially processed animal hides and skins derived from countries not free of exotic diseases of major biosecurity concern relevant to the animal species.
  

The following commodities remain unaffected and have not been suspended by the department:

• Partially processed animal hides and skins derived from countries free of exotic diseases of major biosecurity concern relevant to the animal species
  

• Highly processed goods containing tanned hides/skins
  

• Taxidermied/stuffed and/or mounted animals
  

• Tanned hides/skins
  

• Goods made with rawhide.
  

Exotic diseases of major biosecurity concern

For ruminant species (including cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, deer and antelope)
Foot and mouth disease (FMD), lumpy skin disease, peste des petits ruminants and capripox (listed in the OIE as sheep and goat pox - for ovine/caprine species only).

For porcine species
FMD, African swine fever, classical swine fever, swine vesicular disease.

For equine species
Glanders (Burkholderia mallei).

The department will contact permit holders of the affected commodities directly to inform them of the suspension.

Who does this alert affect?
Importers of untanned animal hides and skins, Assessment Services Group.

Further information:
Please contact the Animal and Biological Imports Branch on 1800 900 090 or email imports@agriculture.gov.au.

Interested parties can apply to enter an approved arrangement with the department to process untanned hides and skins. Please contact Approved Arrangements and refer to http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/arrival/arrangements for more information.