Alerts

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) has removed Greece and Romania from the list of countries approved for the import of camelid fluids and tissues and list of countries approved for the import of cervine fluids and tissues. Romania has also been removed from the list of countries approved for the import of ovine and caprine fluids and tissues.

These lists are referenced both on active permits and in several BICON import pathways for goods which can be imported into Australia.

If you are a holder of a permit affected by the change, the department will contact you to explain what this means for you.

Who does this alert affect:
Departmental staff; importers of camelid, cervine, ovine and/or caprine products which have been sourced and/or manufactured and/or exported from Greece or Romania as a condition of import.

Background:
The department has received notification that cases of Peste des petites ruminants (PPR) have been detected in Greece and Romania. To reduce the risk of a potential incursion and help Australia maintain its current PPR-free status, the department has made the decision to restrict imports of camelid, cervine, ovine and caprine fluids and tissues (including non-viable reproductive material) for laboratory use from Greece and Romania. As a result, Greece and Romania have been removed from the list of countries approved for the import of camelid fluids and tissues and list of countries approved for the import of cervine fluids and tissues, and Romania has been removed from the list of countries approved for the import of ovine and caprine fluids and tissues.

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 Greece or Romania which references the list of countries approved for the import of camelid, cervine, ovine and/or caprine fluids and tissues either in your permit or in the BICON import pathway, then 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 email at imports@aff.gov.au.