Australia strengthens its border controls in the face of the threat of PPA

The department is expected to strengthen biosecurity controls at its airports and mail processing centers after seizing 152 pork products over a two-week period.

The pork products were tested at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong, near Melbourne, and revealed that six of the 152 pork products were infected with the APP virus.

In recent months, APP has spread rapidly in sub-Saharan Africa, continental Europe, and parts of Asia.

Lyn O'Connell, Australia's chief biosafety officer for the Department of Agriculture, said the measures would protect the country's $ 60 billion agricultural industry from the disease.

"Bringing banned products to Australia is putting our environment, our industries and animal health at risk. Detection of virus in products seized at the border does not change the status of country free of African swine fever in Australia, Said O. Connell.

"However,TThe test results confirm the importance of continued compliance with Australia's stringent biosafety requirements. If introduced, it The largest shopping center[ASF] would have a significant impact on the health and production of pork and contribute to broader economic impacts caused by the loss of access of our pork products to foreign markets. "

The government has urged people visiting or returning to Australia to pay attention to its biosecurity requirements and not to carry banned products with them.

"If pbadengers carry food, plant material or animal products in their luggage, they must declare it on their pbadenger cardO'Connell added.