Alerts

On 11 September 2020, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment received notification from the European Commission of an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in the wild boar population of Germany.

ASF is not present in Australia. An incursion of ASF into Australia would have a significant impact on pig health and production. In addition, our access to economically important international markets would be compromised. Eradication of ASF would be very difficult and costly. ASF spreads easily by direct contact between pigs or indirectly by contaminated items. It can also be spread through meat from infected animals and transmitted via vectors (e.g. ticks).

The department is currently reviewing permits issued for products containing biological material sourced from Germany. Import conditions for goods containing, or goods potentially contaminated with, pig material sourced from Germany will be varied or revoked if it is necessary to manage the risk of ASF incursion into Australia.

Affected permit holders will be contacted by the department.

Biosecurity officers from the department’s Assessment and Client Contact Group will be screening incoming consignments to identify those where government certification attesting to Germany’s freedom from ASF is required. These consignments will be held pending advice from the Animal and Biological Imports Branch.

For further information, please refer to:

1. Keeping African swine fever out of Australia: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/pests-diseases-weeds/animal/asf
   

2. Keeping Australia free from African Swine Fever: https://www.awe.gov.au/news/media-releases/keeping-australia-free-african-swine-fever
   

Contact information:

If you require further information, please call 1800 900 090 or email imports@agriculture.gov.au.