Australians ban imports

Press, 20 December 1988, Page 37

Australians ban imports

NZPA Sydney Australian authorities have placed a temporary ban on the import of mares in foal from New Zealand to Australia after an outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1). The Australian Quarantine Inspection Service imposed the ban after six confirmed abortions and 19 new-born foal deaths on at least six New Zealand proper-

ties between the end of May and mid-October.

“It’s difficult to determine the true extent of any outbreak because EHV-1 is not a notifiable disease,” A.Q.I.S. quarantine officer, Kevin Doyle, said yesterday. “We’re currently discussing the matter with the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture, but we can’t give any indication of when the ban might be lifted,” he said.

Thoroughbreds other than pregnant mares would still be allowed into Australia subject to certification that the horse had not been on a property, in the 30 days before arrival, which was infected with EVH-1, Mr Doyle said.

“The disease is contageous and there were serious outbreaks in the Hunter Valley in 1977 and in scattered pockets in 1983. In both cases

there were significant losses of foals,” he said. New Zealand was the only country permitted to send pregnant mares to Australia under present regulations. The ban comes only a few weeks after the Australian Bloodhorse Breeders’ Association voted against a proposal allowing in-foal mares to be imported from Ireland.