A recent seizure of infected meat products in Sydney and Melbourne is a timely reminder to declare all products that pose a biosecurity risk when entering Australia.

The confirmed detections of both African Swine Fever (ASF) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) - considered the biggest threat to Australia’s agriculture – were made after testing the meat products confiscated at the airports.

Department of Primary Industry Resources (DPIR) Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Tony Kettle said international travellers entering the Northern Territory (NT) were urged to declare all meat products and animal equipment, as the highly contagious ASF had already spread throughout China and Eastern Europe.

“An outbreak of ASF in the NT would be dire and could significantly threaten the Australian pork industry, while studies have estimated $50 billion of economic losses over ten years if there were large to medium outbreaks of FMD,” he said.

ASF is a viral disease that can cause up to 95% mortality in affected pigs. The virus survives under most environmental conditions, is resistant to most disinfectants and remains active when frozen and thawed. It does not pose a risk to human health.

FMD can be transferred to animals through eating plant or animal matter or by coming into contact with the virus. Once the disease is established it would likely spread through close contact between animals, and also through the air over short distances.

Dr Kettle reminded everyone not to feed pigs meat scraps or swill, as not only was it illegal in every Australian state and territory, but it highly increased the risk of contracting these diseases.

“Swill is the name for meat products or products that have come into contact with meat. Examples of swill include sausage rolls, pizza, table scraps, restaurant leftovers and discarded cooking oils.”

If you do own a pig or any livestock, you must have a property identification code (PIC) which is a unique eight-character code that identifies the property where your livestock are kept and helps to protect your animals in the event of a disease outbreak.  A PIC is free to register and can be obtained through the DPIR website. 

If you notice any suspicious symptoms in your pigs, such as weakness, lethargy, reduced appetite, discharge and blotchy skin lesions, please contact the Exotic Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Biosecurity is everybody’s responsibility and we all have a part to play in keeping Australia free from exotic pests and disease.