Alerts

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the department) has updated the list of countries approved for avian fluids and tissues for laboratory end use.

The approved country list is referenced on active permits and in BICON pathways. The list is used where import conditions require that goods are sourced from avians which resided in countries approved for avian fluids and tissues (as listed on the department’s website) at the time of collection.

If you are an affected permit holder, the department will contact you to notify you that your permit is affected by this change and explain what this means.

Who does this alert affect:
Importers of avian fluids and tissues (and derivatives) for laboratory use and department staff.

Background:
The department has received notification of a recent outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Romania.

HPAI is not considered to be endemic in Australia.

The Director of Biosecurity is required to act on changes to disease status in order to manage Australia’s biosecurity risk to an appropriate level of protection (ALOP).

Due to the recent change in avian disease and health status of this country, the department has imposed date restrictions on the sourcing of avian materials from the affected country. These changes including restriction dates can be viewed on the list of countries approved for avian fluids and tissues.

Because of the high biosecurity risk posed by HPAI in avian fluids and tissues, these changes are effective as of 17 May 2021.

Further information:
Please contact the department on 1800 900 090 (prompt 1, prompt 1) or via email at imports@awe.gov.au.