FMD/LSD: What you need to know

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)

25 October 2022
With the recent outbreaks of FMD and LSD in Indonesia, it is particularly important for livestock producers to understand their responsibilities, be vigilant and on the lookout. Effective biosecurity practices address the identification and containment of disease outbreaks when they occur and detail the measures in place to prevent disease spread.

We encourage you to review and update your farm biosecurity plan, and access and use the tools and resources available below to ensure you are prepared. A fact sheet is also available for you to download below.

 

Ensure your biosecurity management plan is up-to-date

Ensure your farm biosecurity management plan, which addresses livestock monitoring, quarantine and disease control, is up-to-date. It is recommended to upload the biosecurity plan to your LPA account.  

Adhere to all animal NLIS traceability obligations

Traceability through the supply chain is vital in mitigating against biosecurity threats. It is essential you adhere to all National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) traceability obligations and ensure all documentation is correctly completed. This includes:

The NLIS uses this information to provide a life history of an animal's movements and discern if contact with other livestock occurred.

Complete a Property Risk Assessment

Property Risk Assessments are another necessary component of the LPA program. Producers are required to complete property risk assessments to provide proof of producer action. Producers must prevent unacceptable levels of persistent chemicals or physical contaminants from coming into contact with the livestock they manage.

Property risk assessments are a compulsory requirement of the LPA program, which ensures the integrity of the meat produced, guaranteeing it is safe to eat and is of the highest quality. 

Property risk assessments and farm biosecurity plans are required to be reviewed annually. With the current biosecurity events in Indonesia and Bali, it is imperative producers are reviewing and updating their records to be best prepared.

Property Risk Assessments

Webinar recordings on FMD and LSD

Find out how to protect your livestock and livelihood from biosecurity risks and learn practical hints and tips in the webinar below. See answers to questions submitted during the webinar.

Hear from four key experts on Australia's Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) response so far and get their firsthand insights into what’s happening in Indonesia and what would happen if these diseases arrived in Australia.

Watch the third instalment of the industry webinar series brought to you by the Industry Taskforce on FMD and LSD to get the latest on prevention and preparedness, including the latest developments in Australia and Indonesia, an advocacy.

The below webinar explores potential trade implications of an FMD or LSD outbreak in Australia, and industry and government actions to prepare for market access issues.

What to do if you suspect an infection

Regularly inspect your livestock for ill health and disease and if you observe any unusual signs of disease in your livestock, or if you suspect FMD or LSD, immediately call the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Good biosecurity practices and early detection will be essential to reduce the potential impact of FMD or LSD, should either arrive in Australia.

Call the Emergency Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888

State and territory department contact information

Open borders and livestock standstills

While Australia’s border control works to stop biosecurity threats entering Australia – including meat products, foreign soils and other organics – everyone in the industry must do their part to maintain a high level of security.

With more international travellers arriving in Australia for tourism and work, it is important that anyone who enters a farm or production space has been tested for risks, and there are biosecurity measures in place. Make sure that, when reasonable, you are controlling who is entering the property, and any possible contaminations they may bring, including soil from shoes, exotic diseases and other foreign materials.

In the event of large-scale disease outbreak, your state department of primary industries may call for a livestock standstill, also known as a movement restriction, to prevent further disease spread through the value chain. This stop in transportation gives responders time to conduct investigations, trace infected animals and test for further contamination.

For more information read our article on livestock standstills

FAQs

Australia is currently free from FMD and LSD and our priority is to keep it that way. At the same time, while we are confident in Australia’s strong biosecurity measures, we aren’t taking anything for granted.

State and Federal governments are undertaking a range of activities to manage the biosecurity risks posed by LSD and FMD and are actively engaged with industry on prevention and planning.

MLA in conjunction with the Australian Government, is working closely with the Indonesian Government and industry via a biosecurity support program to help control the spread of FMD and LSD in Indonesia.

A joint industry taskforce has been established to ensure coordination and collaboration across all affected industry sectors, comprised of the Red Meat Advisory Council, National Farmers’ Federation, Australian Dairy Farmers’ and their respective industry service providers. Four skills-based committees have been set up by the taskforce covering overseas in-country support; trade and protocols; diagnostic capability and vaccine development; and domestic containment strategies.

There is a clear and robust plan in place, known as the Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN).

 

Regularly inspect your livestock for ill health and disease and understand how to report a suspected infection. If you observe any unusual signs of disease in your livestock, or if you suspect FMD or LSD, immediately call the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888, your local veterinarian or your state department.

The best chance of being able to contain and eradicate an FMD or LSD incursion will rely on early detection and reporting. 

Call the Emergency Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888

State and territory department contact information

States and territories have different biosecurity requirements. State and territory government agencies often require movement documents, such as animal health declarations, for movement of livestock into their jurisdiction. They may also require testing and/or certification.

Before moving any livestock to a different state/territory, owners should check the requirements with a local animal health officer or on the relevant state or territory website:

State and territory department contact information

Animal Health Australia better on-farm biosecurity

To meet the requirements of LPA, each Property Identification Code (PIC) must have a formal, documented Farm Biosecurity Management Plan that addresses each of the following:

  1. Manage and record the introduction and movement of livestock in a way that minimises the risk of introducing and/or spreading infectious diseases.
  2. Where reasonable and practical, control people, equipment and vehicles entering the property to minimise the potential for property contamination and, if possible, keep a record of such movements.
  3. Prevent and control animal diseases on-farm by regularly monitoring and managing livestock.

Create your own on-farm biosecurity management plan

 

In the event of an incursion, an amalgamated PIC (multiple properties listed under one PIC) is still treated as one single property, regardless of boundaries or size.

All livestock across the properties will be subject to the same quarantine requirements or ability to trade or move livestock.  

In most instances, organisations such as power and water companies have a legal right to enter your property, even without notice.

To reduce the risk to biosecurity it is best to contact the companies and express your concerns about biosecurity and any measures they can undertake to reduce the risks. As well as this, ensure biosecurity signage is prominent on your boundary fences and gates to encourage visitors to contact you on arrival.

You can also increase inspection of the livestock and property in these areas for early signs of any issues.

If you know a visitor has entered your property, record their movements in case of hazards. Signs can be found at Animal Health Australia.

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