Officials from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
have reiterated Australia’s commitment to the tough quarantine measures introduced
last week and designed to combat the spread of foot and mouth disease. The call
came following the lifting of some bans on product that are considered risk- free
in the transmission of the highly contagious virus.
"I don’t think we’re at all close to a normal quarantine state of affairs,"
said Meryl Stanton, executive director of AQIS. She added that Australia would
continue in its cautious approach to all imports, especially in relation to
the bans on meat and livestock products from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and
Africa.
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Today, bans were lifted on commercial shipments of acidic cheeses, chocolate,
hermetically sealed meat and dairy products, prepared meals, flavours and infant
formula (except that from Franc or the UK).
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer noted the European concern over Australia’s
quarantine measures, which extend to strict questioning of all visitors from
foot and mouth infected countries and inspections of all imported shipping containers.
There is also a ban on horses.
Downer revealed: "As a government, our first priority is to Australia
and to the people of Australia and in this instance to our farmers and those
important export industries. Our first priority is not to those who may be critical
of the strength of our measures."
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