20 May 2008
This Biosecurity Australia Advice (BAA) informs stakeholders that Australia’s Director of Quarantine has determined a policy for the importation of King and Gentoo penguins from New Zealand. Importation of penguins can be permitted subject to the Quarantine Act 1908 and the application of sanitary measures as specified in the Final policy review for the importation of King and Gentoo penguins from New Zealand. The policy will be taken into account by decision makers when considering import applications for penguins from New Zealand in accordance with the Quarantine Act 1908 and Quarantine Proclamation 1988 as amended.
In response to an import proposal, Biosecurity Australia issued a draft policy review for public comment in February 2008 (BAA 2008/1) for the importation of King and Gentoo penguins from New Zealand. The penguins are to come from a closed facility in Auckland and are to be housed in a specially constructed, environmentally controlled facility at the Melbourne Aquarium for public display. It is proposed that 77 penguins will be imported: 24 King and 53 Gentoo penguins.
Stakeholder comments did not raise any significant technical issues that warranted changes to the proposed quarantine conditions. Consequently, the policy review has been finalised with no major amendments to the review report or quarantine conditions. The review concluded the importation of penguins should be permitted subject to test results confirming freedom from avian influenza, Newcastle disease and infectious bursal disease. The review took into account the good health status of New Zealand, the closely controlled source flock in New Zealand and that the penguins will be housed in a closed, controlled facility in Melbourne. A copy of stakeholder comments and Biosecurity Australia’s responses are on Biosecurity Australia’s website.
Australia’s Director of Quarantine has now determined the policy to permit the entry of penguins from New Zealand to Australia. Importation of penguins can be permitted subject to the Quarantine Act 1908 and the application of sanitary measures as specified in the Final policy review for the importation of King and Gentoo penguins from New Zealand, May 2008. These measures are designed to limit quarantine risk to a level which is acceptably low, consistent with Australia’s conservative approach to quarantine.
A copy of the final policy review and quarantine conditions is on Biosecurity Australia’s website.
The policy determination and related information have been forwarded to the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS). AQIS will take the determination and policy advice into account when considering applications for import permits.
Please pass this notice to other interested parties. If those parties wish to be included in future communications on this matter they should get in touch with the contact officer listed below. Alternatively, if you wish to be removed from the distribution list, please advise the contact officer.
Information on import risk analyses and policy reviews being conducted by Biosecurity Australia is available on Biosecurity Australia’s website.
Robyn Martin
General Manager
Animal Biosecurity
Contact officer: Penny-Jane Linnett
Telephone: 02 6272 4892
Facsimile: 02 6272 3399
Email: Animal Biosecurity