Alerts

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment advises that a condition for the import of natural bovine, caprine, ovine and porcine casings from unapproved countries – specifically a chlorination treatment – included in the 1999 import risk analysis 'Importation of Sausage Casings into Australia' is no longer acceptable.

Who does this alert affect:
Importers of natural bovine, caprine, ovine and porcine casings and Assessment Services Group.

Background:
The 1999 import risk analysis 'Importation of Sausage Casings into Australia' included the following post arrival treatment options for casings imported from unapproved countries:

• Upon arrival in Australia, the casings shall be immediately removed to an approved post arrival treatment facility, where they will be desalinated and soaked for two hours in chlorine solution maintained at a level of 80 ppm of free available chlorine.
  

This chlorination treatment option had been applied as an alternative to the country freedom requirement for viral pathogens of concern such as foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever. This treatment is no longer acceptable, as there is insufficient evidence that this post arrival treatment is effective at managing biosecurity risks.

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