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8th December 2009

Biosecurity Australia Release Draft Import Risk Analysis Report For Horses form Approved Countries

As part of the Governments response to the Commission of Inquiry into the August 2007 EI outbreak in Australia, Biosecurity Australia has produced a draft import risk analysis (IRA) report. This report covers the importation of horses from countries and regions from which Australia currently allows.These include Canada, EU, Hong Kong, Macau, NZ, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE and the US. Following the EI outbreak import conditions for horses from Japan were suspended, this report also covers Japan. The report assesses 43 pests and diseases and recommends risk management for 25. Some of the measures include country freedom, premises freedom, diagnostic testing, inspection and treatment of ticks, protection from vectors, PEQ and PAQ. The recommended measures for EI are similar to those current interim measures and include freedom without vaccination, or premises freedom, vaccination, diagnostic testing, PEQ and PAQ.

Stakeholders have until 1st February 2010 to provide written comments on this draft IRA report. The report is available at the Biosecurity Australia website here:

http://www.daff.gov.au/ba/ira/current-animal/horses

and comments must submitted to:

Animal Biosecurity
Biosecurity Australia
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601