file ref: 2008/01664
7 July 2008
This Biosecurity Australia Advice (BAA) informs stakeholders that Australia’s Director of Quarantine has determined a policy for the importation of certain species of zoo rodents from Canada, New Zealand, the United States of America (USA) and Member States of the European Union (EU). Importation of zoo rodents can be permitted, subject to the Quarantine Act 1908 and the application of sanitary measures as specified in the Quarantine conditions for the importation of certain species of zoo rodents into Australian zoos from Canada, New Zealand, the USA and Member States of the European Union. The policy will be taken into account by decision makers when considering import applications for zoo rodents in accordance with the Quarantine Act 1908 and Quarantine Proclamation 1988 as amended.
Proposed quarantine conditions for the importation of certain species of zoo rodents into Australian zoos from Canada, New Zealand, the USA and Member States of the EU, and the draft report of a review of the quarantine risks that underpinned the proposed measures, were circulated to stakeholders for comment on 26 March 2008 (BAA 2008/10). The species covered in the review were capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), Brazilian agouti (Dasyprocta leporina), Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum) and Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis).
Stakeholder comments have been taken into account in finalising the import policy. This included a stakeholder noting the absence of reference to encephalomyocarditis virus (ECMV) in the draft report. As ECMV is endemic in Australia and not subject to mandatory control programs, it does not require risk management measures to be applied to imports.
Consequently, the policy review has been finalised with no amendments to the proposed quarantine conditions.
Australia’s Director of Quarantine has now determined the policy to permit the entry of the rodent species listed above into Australian zoos. Importation of these species can be permitted subject to the Quarantine Act 1908 and the application of sanitary measures as specified in the Quarantine conditions for the importation of certain species from Canada New Zealand, the USA and Member States of the European Union, June 2008. These measures are designed to limit quarantine risk to a level which is acceptably low, consistent with Australia’s conservative approach to quarantine.
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 assessments being conducted by Biosecurity Australia is available on the Biosecurity Australia website.
Robyn Martin
General Manager
Animal Biosecurity
Contact officer: Warren Vant
Telephone: 02 6272 4436
Facsimile: 02 6272 3399
Email: Animal Biosecurity