16 June 2025
Who does this notice affect?
Importers and brokers who have imported or plan to import goods containing or derived from foot- and-mouth disease (FMD)-susceptible species (including cattle, sheep, pigs, deer, giraffe, elephants, camelids (alpacas, llamas and camel)) to Australia from Germany.
What has changed?
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has completed a detailed technical evaluation of Germany’s FMD status and an accompanying biosecurity risk assessment and is satisfied that Germany is free from FMD, with effect from 14 April 2025. Germany has now been added to the Director of Biosecurity’s FMD-Free Country List and other relevant commodity-specific lists.
Importers may now import goods containing or derived from FMD-susceptible species that were fully finished and/or exported from Germany before 14 November 2024, or sourced from and/or manufactured in Germany on or after 14 April 2025, where all other import conditions are met. Biosecurity import permits will specify any evidence required to demonstrate this.
Important note: Restrictions remain in place on the import of goods containing or derived from FMD-susceptible species sourced from and/or manufactured in Germany from 14 November 2024 until 14 April 2025, unless alternative risk management measures are in place.
Importers should refer to their biosecurity import permit or the Biosecurity (Conditionally Non-Prohibited Goods) Determination 2021 for relevant import conditions for their goods.
Further information
Information about FMD and further information about the trade situation with Germany can be found on the department’s website.
Please contact the department by phone 1800 900 090 or email to imports@aff.gov.au if you have any questions.