Alerts

Croatia has commenced a preventative vaccination campaign against lumpy skin disease. Although no outbreaks of lumpy skin disease have been detected, the international standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) do not recognise countries undertaking preventative vaccination as free from lumpy skin disease. These standards are part of the criteria used by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources for recognising a country as free from lumpy skin disease for trade purposes.

Lumpy skin disease is not present in Australia and the introduction of this disease would have serious economic consequences for the Australian beef and dairy industries. Animals susceptible to lumpy skin disease include cattle and water buffalo.

As a result of the change in Croatia’s lumpy skin disease status, the department will be enforcing existing measures to reduce the risk of introducing lumpy skin disease into Australia. These measures will be applied to commodities of concern which have been sourced from or manufactured in Croatia from the date the vaccination campaign commenced, 8 August 2016 (inclusive).

Commodities such as bovine semen and embryos, dairy products (excluding cheese and butter), and unprocessed hides and skins sourced from Croatia may now pose an unacceptable biosecurity risk as Australia’s import conditions require them to be sourced from countries free from lumpy skin disease. High risk items will not be permitted entry and variation of import permits will be made where necessary.

Lumpy skin disease – Changing international picture

Lumpy skin disease is a significant disease of cattle and is not present in Australia. Until recently, it was restricted to the African continent and several countries in the Middle East. The disease has spread to south-eastern Europe, first occurring in Greece in late 2015, outbreaks have since occurred in Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro.

European veterinary authorities are actively engaged in the management and prevention of further outbreaks. However, as lumpy skin disease is a highly infectious and difficult to eradicate transboundary disease, further spread within Europe can be expected. The department continues to monitor the presence of lumpy skin disease in south-eastern Europe and will notify importers if additional outbreaks occur and the effect they may have on existing trade.