Alerts

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has received an official report of an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Germany and is currently working to assess the biosecurity risk to Australia and what this might mean for import conditions. To help mitigate the risk to Australia, Germany has been removed from the applicable country lists that require FMD freedom.

The department made an immediate change on 12 January 2025 to remove Germany from the FMD free list.

The department is also undertaking further assessment of all traded goods from Germany and may introduce further restrictions over the coming days.

More information will be made available via BICON alerts, industry advice notices and other official communication channels as this work progresses. In the meantime, if you are a permit holder or have recently applied for a permit, the department will be in contact with you if any changes are required to your import conditions.

Goods in transit:
Any relevant goods in transit will be held and assessed on a case-by-case basis. Generally, product manufactured prior to the 14 November 2024 may be released from biosecurity control if suitable evidence can be supplied to biosecurity officers.

The department will work with importers to achieve outcomes that manages the biosecurity risks with an aim of clearing consignments. Goods may require additional intervention measures such as increased inspections or treatments. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Who does this alert affect:
Importers and brokers who have imported or plan to import goods containing or derived from FMD-susceptible species products from Germany since 14 November 2024.

Further information:
Information about FMD can be found on the department’s website and an industry advice notice has also been released.

For all other questions, please contact the Plant Import Operations Branch on 1800 900 090 or email imports@aff.gov.au.