What is Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)?
- FMD is a contagious animal disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals including cattle, sheep, goats, camelids, deer and pigs. It does not affect horses.
- FMD is a disease of animals, not humans. FMD is not transmitted to humans by eating affected meat.
- FMD virus is carried by live animals and in meat and dairy products, as well as in soil, vehicles and equipment used with these animals. It can also be carried on people’s clothing and footwear.
- For the latest information about FMD, please visit the Australian Government website.
Why is Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) important now?
- In May 2022, an outbreak of FMD was reported in cattle in Indonesia and has since spread to Bali. This is the closest the disease has come to Australia since the 1980s.
- Australia is currently free of FMD, so any introduction of the disease to our country would have severe consequences for the meat and livestock industry.
- The Department of Primary Industries has said that an outbreak could lead to the immediate closure of meat export markets for more than a year costing more than $80 billion over 10 years.
- The reputation of Australia’s meat and livestock industry would also be impacted for many years to come.
What is being done to stop Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) from entering Australia?
- The Australian Government has strengthened border security activities and introduced new measures to help prevent FMD from entering the country.
- These measures include a new Biosecurity (Foot and Mouth Disease Biosecurity Response Zone) Determination 2022 that establishes stronger powers to inspect and stop at risk items from entering Australia.
- The Australian Government is working with all state and territory governments on the following measures:
- Stronger clearance requirements for travellers entering through our airports;
- Increased screening for risk goods;
- Increased disease surveillance across Australia’s Top End;
- Assistance to Indonesian authorities to combat and contain the outbreak; and
- Awareness campaigns to Australia’s livestock producers and agriculture industries, travellers and a range of other stakeholders.
- For the latest information about what action the Australian Government is taking to prevent FMD from entering Australia, please visit the website.
What can I do to help reduce the risk of Foot and Mouth Disease?
- It is important to check and follow the advice of biosecurity agencies who are monitoring the situation closely and updating measures as and when required. This includes the Australian Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and/or your state or territory biosecurity agency.
- It is recommended that people who have been in contact with FMD-infected animals or infected areas (such as Bail, Indonesia) DO NOT visit Australian farms, livestock facilities, or handle livestock for at least 7 days after returning to Australia.
- For Hosts who own livestock, it is important that you know the signs of FMD, and check your animals regularly. If you suspect FMD in any animal, report it immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.
- The below rule has been drafted to assist Hosts with communicating these expectations to Hipcampers. Here are instructions for adding and updating your listing rules. We also suggest adding this to your site description.
Farms across Australia are currently on alert following reported cases of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in Indonesia.
People who have been in contact with FMD-infected areas, including Bali, are asked NOT to visit Australian farms for at least 7 days after returning to Australia.
Should I close my farm to visitors at this time?
- The Department of Primary Industries has said that FMD is most likely to enter Australia through illegal imports of meat and dairy products infected with the FMD.
- Strict quarantine, surveillance and biosecurity conditions are now in place to prevent FMD from entering Australia. These measures greatly reduce the risk of the disease from entering Australia.
- While it is recommended that people who have been in contact with FMD-infected animals or infected areas (such as Bail, Indonesia) DO NOT visit Australian farms for at least 7 days after returning to Australia, there is no advice that farms should close to visitors at this time.