The Australian Government has banned personal meat imports in response advocacy by the VFF and supporting organisations that sought to ban all food coming with internationals travellers into Australia.
In July, the VFF was one of the first farmer groups to call for a total ban on passengers bringing food into Australia on international flights.
The VFF directly raised its concerns over food coming into the country with Federal Agriculture Minister Senator Murray Watt at the round-table held at Farrer House in Melbourne on 18 August.
The ban applies to all travellers coming into Australia from over 70 countries where FMD has been detected as well as parcel deliveries. Only commercial importer are permitted to bring meat products into Australia from the list of restricted countries.
Whilst the ban does not extend as far as originally hoped for, the VFF is comfortable with the arrangements that have been put in place. We continue to monitor the situation and lobby government to ensure Australia remains free from FMD.