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200-2025: Update to requirements for treatment certificates for treatments performed in China

26 June 2025

Who does this notice affect?

Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including vessel masters, freight forwarders, offshore treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers, principal agents and master consolidators.

What has changed?

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) has updated the treatment certification requirements for goods treated in China following the approval of treatment providers based in China onto the List of treatment providers.

Apply for alternative payment method for Agaricus mushroom levy

Large producers of Agaricus mushrooms may apply to use the alternative payment method.

If your application is approved, you will be able to pay the levy in equal monthly instalments over the year based on the maximum amount of mushroom spawns you are required to pay levy on in a financial year - which is 370,000 kilograms.

 

How to apply

To apply, you must reasonably believe that the total amount of mushroom spawn you will produce and purchase in the next financial year will be 370,000 kilograms or more.

AWTG Communiqué May 2025

Options for the Development of National Standards and Guidelines for Animal Welfare

The AWTG are continuing discussions on the staged approach to improvements to the standards development process.

Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Livestock at Processing Facilities and Establishments

AWTG 25-03 noted an update from Queensland that jurisdictions continue to work collaboratively on the third draft of the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Livestock at Processing Facilities and Establishments.

Project 04: Establishing networked serological testing capability for African swine fever

Project description

This project improved serological testing capability for ASF in Australia by harmonising quality assurance processes. It also established robust testing capability throughout the Laboratories for Emergency Animal Disease Diagnostic and Response (LEADDR) network.

Project Lead: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Project Contact: animalhealthlaboratories@aff.gov.au 

Project Status: Complete

Project 03: Developing lumpy skin disease and African horse sickness whole genome sequencing workflows

Overview

This project developed robust whole genome sequencing procedures for the early detection and characterisation of lumpy skin disease and African horse sickness viruses. The goal is to reduce the consequences of their outbreaks in Australia.

The genomic sequencing probes and procedures are now available at the Australian Centre for Disease Prevention. These serve as an invaluable resource in the event of a disease outbreak in Australia.

Project Lead: Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness; Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Project 01: Australian Biosecurity Genomic Database for notifiable animal viruses (Phase 2)

Overview

Phase 2 of this project developed a curated database of verified genomic viral sequences for notifiable aquatic animal disease viruses in Australia. In addition, several new whole genome sequences from recent local terrestrial and aquatic outbreaks were uploaded to improve the utility of the database.

The genomic database facilitates a more robust and efficient application of high throughput sequencing for Australian biosecurity surveillance and disease detection.

Project Lead: AgriBio, Agriculture Victoria

Project 18: National laboratory simulation exercise planning

Overview

The Subcommittee on Animal Health Laboratory Standards, through leadership of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and an expert consultant, have completed the process of finalising a business plan. The plan looks towards a national laboratory-focused simulation exercise.

The exercise was completed in 2023. It helped identify ways to improve surge capacity of the Australian animal health laboratory network in response to an emergency animal disease outbreak.