January 14, 2009

Australian beef industry is confident it can fight off allowing the import of the foot and mouth virus for research purposes.

The Cattle Council of Australia (CCA) has requested an urgent meeting with Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke to argue against the move.

CCA president Greg Brown said the whole beef industry is shocked they could be considering this.

Releasing the Beale quarantine report late last year, Burke said he accepted all of its 84 recommendations, but would consult on how to implement and fund them.

One recommendation said the import of FMD and other exotic disease samples was vital for use in diagnostic research by organisations such as the Australian Animal Health Laboratory and should be permitted under strict quarantine arrangements.

Burke said that science-based considerations were the key to making sure Australia's bio-security was protected and there are no plans, nor any application, for live foot and mouth disease strains to be brought into Australia yet.

The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) backed the CCA, branding any move to import the FMD virus as "unwarranted".

NFF chief executive Ben Fargher said Australian farmers are overwhelmed of the view that such a move would pose an unnecessary risk to livestock, and must not be pursued.