June 9, 2004

Australia Pork Industry's Challenge Over Quarantine Decision To Be Opposed

The Australian dairy and cattle industries are set to oppose the pork industry's bid to challenge a quarantine decision in the courts.

It is likely they will line up against the move at the National Farmers' Federation Council meeting on June 21.

The issue is causing tensions in agri-politics ranks, with state farm bodies representing pork as well as other commodities.

"It's becoming a fairly messy business," one farm official said.

Australian Pork Limited -- which is not an NFF member -- will soon seek Federal Court action to overturn a recent change to quarantine rules allowing a wider range of pig meat imports into Australia under new safeguards.

APL is concerned that the import risk assessment (IRA) process leading to the decision was flawed by not properly accounting for scientific uncertainty over the potential import of a serious pig disease.

The common law move comes after an independent IRA assessment panel rejected APL's appeal against the initial decision by Biosecurity Australia.

APL also received support from a Senate inquiry which called for the BA decision to be put on hold while further scientific work was done.

But a report by NFF technical expert Dr Tony Shannon raised concerns by saying BA's decision was based on sound science and warned of trade-related dangers if overturned.

Australian Dairy Farmers' Limited last week expressed concern about any move away from science-based quarantine decisions.