Alerts

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) has removed Spain from the list of countries approved for ovine and caprine fluids and tissues and the sheep pox and goat pox-free country list in response to reports of an outbreak of sheep and goat pox.

These lists are referenced on active import permits for ovine and/or caprine dairy and, ovine and/or caprine fluids and tissues (including laboratory products containing fluids and tissues). Permit holders affected by the change will be contacted to explain how this will impact them.

The department is also reviewing active import permits for stockfeed from Spain as this change in disease status impacts the level of risk associated with this commodity. Importers of goods that will be affected by amended permit conditions will also be contacted by the department.

Who does this alert affect?
Departmental staff; importers of: ovine and/or caprine dairy, ovine and/or caprine fluids and tissues (including laboratory products containing fluids and tissues), and stockfeed from Spain.

Background:
The department has received notification that cases of sheep and goat pox have been detected in Spain. Sheep and goat pox is one of the department’s pathogens of highest animal biosecurity concern and an incursion of the virus in Australia could have potentially significant economic impacts on our sheep and goat industries. To reduce the risk of an incursion to Australia’s Appropriate Level of Protection, the department has made the decision to remove Spain from the list of countries approved for ovine and caprine fluids and tissues and the sheep pox and goat pox-free country list.

The department will be in contact with any permit holders affected by this change to provide further information about the impact on import conditions for specific goods.

If you are preparing a consignment of goods from Spain under a permit that references the approved country lists above, you are advised not to dispatch the consignment. If any of these goods are currently in transit to Australia, please contact the department as soon as possible.

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