The EU will not launch a world trade challenge against Australia despite the harsh blanket import restrictions and bans implemented against EU livestock since the occurrence of foot and mouth disease. The reassurance came this week as EU ambassador in Australia, Aneurin Hughes, commented that the ban is “perfectly understandable.”
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The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) selectively relaxed certain import restrictions this week, but the majority of those designed to protect Australia’s domestic herds from the highly contagious foot and mouth virus will remain in place. Only meat and dairy products from the US, Canada and New Zealand can currently be imported into Australia.
Hughes said: “Once the disease got beyond the UK, it was clearly a substantial threat, and countries have the right under world trade rules to take such measures where there is a threat to public health.”
“But bans can only be temporary,” he added, “and we hope they will be lifted sooner rather than later as the European outbreak is brought under control.”
Mike Taylor, national quarantine chief, reassured the EU that he is “rapidly evaluating” the bans on a daily basis.
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By GlobalDataIt is estimated that an outbreak of foot and mouth in Australia would to cost the agricultural industry A$2bn in the first year through lost exports. It would also mean that unemployment was pushed up by 1% and the nation’s output would be reduced by 3.5%. As Taylor commented: “You only get one chance at keeping it [FMD] out.”
