Good news for Australian horse exports
1 February 2008
Good news for Australian horse exports
Several international markets are re-opening their doors to Australian horse exports.
Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Andy Carroll said following the equine influenza outbreak many countries suspended horse imports from Australia, but the excellent progress of the eradication program has allowed trade to resume.
“Japan, Hong Kong and Macau recently agreed to resume trade,” Dr Carroll said.
“Negotiations are progressing well with Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, which is great news for Australian horse exporters.”
Biosecurity Australia also met with Biosecurity New Zealand earlier this week to discuss animal health issues including horse import conditions.
Re-zoning progress
As of today, green zones in NSW and Queensland are now reclassified white.
Free horse movement is allowed within white areas and to adjoining states. Horses travelling to adjoining states will not need to be tested or undergo quarantine.
Horse owners in the previous green zone will now have greater freedom of movement.
Reclassifying green zones to white means more than 95 per cent of Australia is demonstrably free from equine influenza including much of the infected states.
“The successful biosecurity control program combined with vaccination, veterinary authorities, the actions of horse industries and individual horse owners has allowed Australia to recover from EI much sooner than expected,” Dr Carroll said.
“While the control of the outbreak is good news for all horse enthusiasts, adherence to remaining biosecurity and movement restrictions is the key to completely eradicating the disease.
“With no new cases of the equine influenza since late December we are getting closer each day to eradicating the disease by the mid-March target.
“However, it is vital that anyone who suspects EI reports it immediately to their local Department of Primary Industries, veterinarian or 1800 234 002.”
Media contact: Dr Andy Carroll - phone DAFF Media +61 2 6272 3232 | www.outbreak.gov.au