The Department of Agriculture said it banned the entry of poultry products from Australia following reports of an outbreak of H7N7 highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, in Lethbridge, Victoria.
The Australian Center for Disease Preparedness confirmed the outbreak based on the report of the Canberra-based Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environmen.
A memorandum order issued on Aug. 14 immediately enforced the ban to protect the local poultry industry.
Agriculture Secretary Willian Dar said the ban would cover the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen.
The Bureau of Animal Industry also suspended the processing of all applications and issuances of sanitary and phytosanitary clearance for the importation of the said commodities.
It said all incoming shipments of poultry with SPS import clearance issued on or before Aug. 6, 2020 would be allowed entry provided that frozen poultry meat were certified slaughtered 21 days prior to the start of the outbreak.
The BAI said all incoming shipments of recently poultry and poultry products slaughtered and processed after 21 days prior to outbreak would run the risk of confiscation at all major ports of entry.
