Meat & Livestock Australia will provide $1.3 million to fund an Indonesian FMD vaccine support project for importers to purchase up to 600,000 vaccine doses for Australian cattle entering Indonesian feedlots.
The vaccines will be administered by importers and funding provided on a cost recovery basis by MLA.
Australian Live Exporters’ Council chief executive officer Mark Harvey-Sutton said providing assistance for vaccinations was a practical measure to help give importers confidence and slow the spread of FMD.
“It will help allow Indonesian importers to continue operating with fewer hurdles and build on our years of partnership with Indonesian industry,” Mr Harvey-Sutton said.
MLA managing director Jason Strong said MLA would also be providing local expertise and support via the Livestock Export Program in-market team, who would provide updated information and act as the link between industry and government.
“This will help with consistent messaging regarding policy and operational matters, distribution of training materials and key information to industry, and co-ordination of Australia/Indonesia industry meetings and updates,” Mr Strong said.
These measures are in addition to MLA’s partnership with the Federal Government to deliver a biosecurity support program to Indonesia, providing technical and training support to:
- Instil long-term biosecurity capacity to manage exotic diseases.
- Minimise disruption to the live cattle trade.
- Build the Indonesian Government’s confidence in their feedlot sector to manage diseases to continue trade and food security.
- Assist Indonesian smallholders to manage and minimise disease spread.
Mr Strong said the program of investment and activities would reduce the risk of FMD incursion into Australia and protect the important trading relationship with Indonesia.
“The Australian livestock industry is committed to supporting Indonesia with its disease suppression efforts,” he said.
“Australia remains free of FMD. It is important that government, industry, the supply chain and the general public continue to work together to keep it that way.
“We have successfully done this for over 100 years and industry and government are taking practical steps to ensure that continues.”