Documents Relating To Guidelines And Policies On The Department’s Import Risk Assessments.

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The Department of Agriculture released internal guidelines on managing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) biosecurity risks in imported commodities, dated August 2014. The guidelines direct Animal Biosecurity Branch officers on recognising FMD-free status of trading partners, applying the department's FMD-Free Approved Country List, and responding to outbreaks. FMD is identified as the single greatest disease threat to Australian livestock industries. Imports of FMD-risk materials are restricted to countries assessed as FMD-free unless alternative risk management conditions are evaluated and approved. While the department considers World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recognition, it conducts independent evaluations due to extreme outbreak consequences and perceived limitations in the OIE process. The guidelines consolidate Animal Biosecurity Branch policy documents, outbreak response procedures, and competent authority evaluation protocols to promote consistent trade policy application across operational areas.