INTERNATIONAL airports and ports, relevant to the threat posed by foot and mouth disease (FMD), will remain subject to Australia’s Biosecurity Response Zone Determination, to June 2023.

Greater powers were given to international border biosecurity officers in July 2022 in response to growing concerns within the agricultural sector.

Indonesia was removed from the Federal Government’s FMD-free country list in May 2022, following confirmation by Indonesia authorities of an outbreak of the viral disease, that affect cloven-hoofed animals.

 Two months later, more stringent measures were introduced that included assessment of all passengers on flights from Indonesia to Australia, that enabled officers to direct passengers to clean their shoes and use foot mats.

Sanitising foot mats were also installed at all international airports, and at ports where commercial or cruise vessels arrive direct from Indonesia.

On Monday, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry department biosecurity director and secretary, Andrew Metcalfe AO, said the continued zone determination ensured Australia had the strongest protection from FMD being introduced by travellers from Indonesia.

“Biosecurity Response Zones at international airports were first established in July,” he said.

“Australia is currently free of FMD and we want to keep it that way.

“The response zones strengthen and widen the powers of biosecurity officers to set up and direct passengers to use foot mats and other biosecurity control measures such as the cleaning of shoes.

An outbreak of FMD would potentially decimate the livestock industry due to export market closures, production disruption, significant flow-on social impacts and economic losses for regional businesses involved in agriculture.

Mr Metcalfe said the response zones were in addition to Australia’s $14 million assistance package to reduce the risk of FMD spreading from Bali to Australia, which included increased detection and protection here in Australia and a million vaccines for the Indonesian cattle industry.

FMD is a highly contagious viral disease susceptible cloven-hoofed animals (those with divided hoofs), including cattle, buffalo, camels, sheep, goats, deer and pigs.

The disease can persist in the environment in soil, on equipment used with infected animals and on goods such as clothing and footwear.