Livestock Quarantines Modified By Australia

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30279, 4 November 1963, Page 14

Livestock Quarantines Modified By Australia

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 3.

Australia has agreed to modification of some of its quarantine requirements afiecting import from New Zealand of animals and animal products, according to an announcement by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) today.

“Although the ban on the import of ruminant animals will have to be maintained for the present, bovine semen from approved artificial insemination centres in New Zealand will now be permitted entry into Australia,” said the Federal Minister of Health (Senator Wade). “Strict quarantine control will, however, be exercised over any such importations, and strict conditions will be imposed to eliminate any risk of the introduction of animal diseases.

“In addition, the present embargo or. the importation of pigs from New Zealand will be lifted. Pigs will now be allowed to be imported, by sea only, and subject to various tests and certifications to ensure that no quarantine risk is involved. "Conditions under which meat may be imported from New Zealand have, on the other hand, been tightened slightly. Meat being imported into Australia from New Zealand on overseas sea vessels will in future be subject to the same conditions as those governing the Australian inter-state transport of meat on such vessels, requiring cleansing and sealing of holds anu various certifications and declarations.

“The Australian requirements relating to the importation by air from New Zealand of horses, dogs, cats, and poultry (including day-old chicks and hatching eggs) will be eased. “Aircraft which fly between Australia, New Zealand, and Norfolk Island may now transport these items provided the planes have not been outside this area for at least a month and subject to other prescribed precautionary conditions.” Still Vigilant Senator Wade emphasised that these concessions did not imply any relaxation of Australia's quarantine vigilance. They were the result of careful deliberation designed to eliminate unnecessary restrictions without in any way increasing the risk to Australia's quarantine security. New Zealand, like Australia, was free from most serious diseases affecting livestock.

The proposed relaxations were discussed first at the biennial conference of

Commonwealth and State veterinarians, and agreement on them was reached between the Commonwealth and the States directly concerned. The present total ban on the import of cattle from the Australian mainland into New Zealand would be fully discussed at a later meeting of the technical committee, said Senator Wade, as would outstanding problems on plant material, most of which were fuUy discussed last year between Australia and New Zealand.

“It is indeed good news.” said Mr Taiboys, "that after protracted negotiations on our

quarantine relations with Australia, we have made this progress. “Australia's economy, like ours, is greatly dependent on livestock products. We share advantages of freedom from many of the animal scourges prevalent in other parts of the world, and are very careful to preserve! them. “Animal quarantine officials of both countries are in continuous close touch, and I hope that further relaxations, to the benefit of both but without increasing the risk of the introduction of exotic animal diseases, will be possible ” said Mir Talboys.