June 1, 2005

Australia's disease-free status for livestock under question

Australia's disease-free status for many livestock ailments has come under question by pork producers. Some pork producers feel that Australia's livestock quarantine rules favour free trade over disease prevention. 

As an example, Biosecurity Australia is an independent agency within the Australian government's agriculture, fisheries and forestry portfolio. Biosecurity Australia develops and reviews quarantine policies to protect Australia's agricultural industries and environment from exotic pests and diseases.

Biosecurity Australia wants to import pork from countries considered to be at low risk of Post-weaning Multi-systemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS). However, the Australian federal court ruled against any relaxing of Australia's quarantine policy last week reasoning that to allow the imports would increase the chances of domestic pigs being infected by PMWS.