W.CFP.2302 - LEP Co-Funding - FMD Vaccine Support

Summary

Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) has recently been confirmed in Indonesia and presents significant risk to Australia’s livestock industries, through (a) loss of export market access for meat and livestock due to country free health protocol requirements and (b) reduced domestic production via health and welfare compromise plus state restrictions on livestock movement to control disease spread.

MLA, through the Co-Funding Program, will reimburse exporters in the short term so that industry is assured that Australian slaughter and breeder cattle entering Indonesia are appropriately vaccinated, therefore limiting their chances of contracting FMD and also contributing to decreasing the prevalence of disease in Indonesia. The intention is that as Indonesia progresses with a large-scale vaccination program and vaccine procurement becomes easier, commercial operators will routinely vaccinate cattle as part of their biosecurity plan.

Objectives

MLA, through the Co-Funding Program, will reimburse exporters in the short term so that industry is assured that Australian slaughter and breeder cattle entering Indonesia are appropriately vaccinated, therefore limiting their chances of contracting FMD and also contributing to decreasing the prevalence of disease in Indonesia. The intention is that as Indonesia progresses with a large-scale vaccination program and vaccine procurement becomes easier, commercial operators will routinely vaccinate cattle as part of their biosecurity plan.

Key findings

That industry is assured that Australian cattle entering Indonesia are appropriately vaccinated, assisting in maintaining market access for the live export trade, benefiting Australia’s exporters and producers that are reliant upon the trade.

Benefits to industry

Engaging in FMD response provides an opportunity for Australia to safeguard its meat and livestock industries, through provision of immediate and longer-term biosecurity and disease management support to Indonesia and to maintain live export market access for northern cattle producers and exporters by reducing the risk of FMD spreading further in Indonesia and regionally across Australia.

MLA action

This is a one-off investment from the LEP to support the live export industry with reimbursements for FMD vaccines administered in Indonesia. No further MLA investment at this stage.

Future research

This is a one-off investment from the LEP to support the live export industry with reimbursements for FMD vaccines administered in Indonesia. No further MLA investment at this stage.