Documents Relating To Decision To Approve Beef Imports.

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The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry approved expanded market access for fresh beef imports from the United States, now permitting products from cattle born in Canada or Mexico that are legally imported and slaughtered in the US. Previously, only US-origin beef had been permitted since 2019. The decision followed rigorous science-based and risk-based import assessments by the department and Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Key to approval were strengthened US movement controls implemented in late 2024 and early 2025, enabling cattle traceability from farm through supply chain. The department determined these enhanced controls adequately manage biosecurity risks, particularly for animal diseases, despite the complex North American cattle supply chain involving thousands of annual cross-border movements between the US, Canada, and Mexico. All imports remain subject to Australia's strict biosecurity and food safety requirements.