Import Risk Assessment Of Horses Open For Comment

On 30 September 2008, Biosecurity Australia announced the formal commencement of an Import Risk Assessment (IRA) for the importation of horses from approved countries. The IRA is part of the Government’s response to the Commission of Inquiry into the August 2007 equine influenza outbreak in Australia.

The IRA covers the importation of horses from countries and regions from which Australia currently permits such importation. These include Canada, certain Member States of the European Union, Hong Kong, Macau, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and the United States. The IRA also covers horses from Japan. Import conditions for horses from Japan were suspended following the equine influenza outbreak in Japan in 2007. The IRA assesses 43 pests and diseases and recommends risk management measures for the following 25: African horse sickness, anthrax, Borna disease, contagious equine metritis, dourine, Eastern equine encephalomyelitis, epizootic lymphangitis, equid herpesvirus-1 (abortigenic and neurological strains), equine encephalosis, equine infectious anaemia, equine influenza, equine piroplasmosis, equine viral arteritis, glanders, horse pox, Japanese encephalitis, Lyme disease, New World screwworm, Old World screwworm, rabies, surra, vesicular stomatitis, Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis, West Nile fever and Western equine encephalomyelitis. {sidebar id=3}Risk management measures include country freedom, premises freedom, diagnostic testing, inspection and treatment for ticks, protection from vectors, PEQ and PAQ. The recommended measures for equine influenza are similar to those in the current interim measures and include country freedom without vaccination, or premises freedom, vaccination, diagnostic testing, PEQ and PAQ. Stakeholders have until 1 February 2010 (60 days plus extra days for the Christmas/New year holiday break) to provide written comments on the draft IRA report. The draft IRA report is available from the Biosecurity Australia website, www.biosecurityaustralia.gov.au. It can also be found on DAFF.