October 15, 2013

Australia to maintain effective biosecurity system against FMD

Press release

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Science's (ABARES) new report revealed the cost of a large foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Australia at more than US$50 billion over 10 years.

ABARES Acting Executive Director, Kim Ritman, said producers of beef, sheep, dairy and wool would be devastated by such a large FMD outbreak.

"All red meat, live animal and livestock product exports to most major trading partners would stop until the disease was eradicated and market access could be renegotiated," Ritman said.

He noted this could be a lengthy process, pointing to the experiences of other countries with disease outbreaks and Australia's own challenges in opening new export markets.

Australia's Chief Veterinary Officer, Mark Schipp, said the ABARES report served as a timely reminder about the importance of maintaining an effective biosecurity system in Australia.

Schipp explained that plans are in place to ensure that, in the unlikely event that the disease did get into the country, it would be eradicated as quickly as possible.

"This involves the Australian Government working closely with the states and territories as well as with industry to ensure we're prepared and respond rapidly," Schipp said.

The ABARES report assesses the economic and social impacts under a few FMD outbreak scenarios and shows that while still very costly, a small outbreak that is identified and eradicated quickly is not as devastating for producers and rural communities.