Chicken Meat Import Risk Analysis Update

8 August 2008

Biosecurity Australia Advice 2008/24

Chicken Meat Import Risk Analysis Update

This Advice informs stakeholders of the status of Biosecurity Australia’s chicken meat import risk analysis (IRA). The Eminent Scientists Group (ESG) has concluded its review of the draft final report, which took account of stakeholders’ comments. A copy of the ESG report is available on Biosecurity Australia’s website. Biosecurity Australia is now finalising the IRA report and expects to release it by the end of September 2008. The final report will be open to appeal.

On 31 March 2008, Biosecurity Australia formally referred the draft final IRA report for chicken meat to the ESG. The role of the ESG is to ensure that Biosecurity Australia has taken stakeholder comments properly into account in finalising the IRA and quarantine policy recommendations. The ESG has submitted its findings to Australia’s Director of Quarantine and to Biosecurity Australia. The ESG report is available on Biosecurity Australia’s website.

Biosecurity Australia is now finalising the IRA report and policy recommendations, taking account of the ESG report. The IRA team met by teleconference on 2 July 2008 and considered the ESG report. The final IRA report, which is open to formal appeal, is expected to be issued by the end of September 2008. Stakeholders will have 30 days from the publication of the final IRA report to lodge an appeal in writing to the Import Risk Analysis Appeals Panel (IRAAP) – a body independent of Biosecurity Australia – on the basis of:

• a significant deviation from the process set out in the Import Risk Analysis Handbook (2003) that adversely affected the interests of a stakeholder; and/or
• a significant body of scientific information relevant to the outcome of the IRA was not considered.

In lodging appeals, stakeholders are required to submit reasons for their appeal.

Following any appeal process (and implementation of appeal outcomes, if required) a final report and recommendations will be provided to the Director of Quarantine, who will then make a quarantine policy determination.

Please pass this notice to other interested parties. If those parties wish to be included in future communications on this matter they should get in touch with the contact officer (details below).

Information on risk assessments and policy reviews being conducted by Biosecurity Australia is available on the Biosecurity Australia website.

Biosecurity Australia welcomes any comments on matters relevant to the issues raised in this Advice.

Dr Colin J Grant
Chief Executive

Contact officer: Dr David Buckley
Telephone: 02 6272 5734
Facsimile: 02 6272 3399
Email: Animal Biosecurity