We have completed a draft report for the importation of cooked turkey meat from the United States. Public consultation on the draft report has closed.
Steps to complete this review
When we do a review, we:
- review the science on pests and diseases of concern
- assess and analyse biosecurity risks
- develop proposed risk management measures, if required
- consult the public on the draft report and then review comments
- publish a final report
- develop import conditions
- publish import conditions in our Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON).
Your feedback on the draft report
Thank you for sharing your perspectives, ideas and research.
Your feedback will help inform our final risk review of cooked turkey meat from the United States.
What you said
The 90 day public consultation period ended on 15 November 2016. We have reviewed your feedback and are seeking further information on specific diseases to complete the assessment of biosecurity risks.
We received many comments about the conclusion that the prevalence of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) in US turkeys is likely to be very low. We are working with the US to obtain prevalence data for IBDV in US turkeys and the review will be progressed once the information becomes available.
Comments received also suggested the time and temperature requirements for cooking as defined in the scope may be impractical for the products intended for export. Therefore a review of the definition of cooking is in progress.
Next steps
We are continuing to work with the US to obtain prevalence data for IBDV and the review will be progressed when this information becomes available.
In the meantime, we are continuing to:
- discuss time and temperature requirements for cooking as defined in the scope of the review with the aim of meeting Australia’s ALOP while also being practical for the products intended for export
- update the draft report as information is received.
We anticipate that we will release the updated review for further consultation prior to finalisation.
We will then consider those comments, release a final report and develop import conditions to be published on BICON.
Learn more about why we carry out risk analyses and our international obligations.
About the draft report
We proposed that the import of cooked turkey meat be allowed from the US. All imports must meet the agreed biosecurity import conditions.
The draft report details:
- diseases of biosecurity concern for this commodity
- risk assessments for the identified diseases of biosecurity concern.
Risk management measures
Proposed risk management measures include:
- turkey meat to be imported is sourced only from abattoirs and processing facilities approved by the United States Department of Agriculture
- only muscle meat is to be imported (no whole birds)
- meat must be cooked to a minimum temperature of 76.6 °C (170 °F) for at least 30 minutes.
Download the draft report
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, 2016
| Document | Pages | File size |
|---|---|---|
Importation of cooked turkey meat from the United States – draft review PDF | 91 | 1.42 MB |
Importation of cooked turkey meat from the United States – draft review DOCX | 91 | 1.18 MB |
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
Contact us
For more information about this review email Animal Biosecurity.
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