Australia Confirms FMD-Free Status Amid Heightened Biosecurity Vigilance

Enhanced Border Controls, Regional Surveillance and Farm Biosecurity Continue to Protect Australia’s Livestock Industry from Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Australia has reaffirmed its Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)-free status, with Animal Health Australia (AHA) and the Australian Government continuing to strengthen surveillance, border protection and on-farm biosecurity measures against one of the world’s most economically devastating livestock diseases.

In its latest threat update, Animal Health Australia confirmed that there are no active responses to FMD within Australia, while warning that the disease remains an ongoing regional biosecurity risk because it continues to circulate in neighbouring Indonesia. The advisory highlights the importance of maintaining a high level of preparedness to prevent the virus from entering Australia’s livestock population.

Australia Remains Free from FMD

Foot-and-Mouth Disease is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, pigs, deer and other cloven-hoofed animals. Although it rarely causes high mortality in adult animals, the disease spreads rapidly and can have devastating consequences for livestock production and international trade.

Australia is internationally recognised as an FMD-free country without vaccination, a status that underpins billions of dollars in annual exports of beef, sheep meat, dairy products and livestock genetics. Protecting this status remains a national biosecurity priority.

Regional Risk Continues

While Australia remains disease-free, FMD has been endemic in Indonesia since 2022. According to Animal Health Australia, Indonesia continues extensive vaccination programmes and disease surveillance to control virus circulation.

Australia is working closely with Indonesian authorities and livestock industries through regional biosecurity initiatives aimed at reducing the risk of cross-border disease spread and strengthening emergency preparedness across the region.

Multi-Layered Biosecurity Protection

Australia’s defence against FMD relies on several complementary measures, including:

• Strict import conditions for animal products.

• Enhanced screening of passengers, baggage and mail at international borders.

• Quarantine and inspection procedures.

• Continuous national disease surveillance.

• Strong on-farm biosecurity practices.

• Emergency response planning through AUSVETPLAN, Australia’s nationally agreed veterinary emergency response framework.

These measures are designed to detect potential incursions rapidly and contain any outbreak before widespread transmission can occur.

Why FMD Matters

An FMD outbreak would have major consequences for Australia’s livestock industries. Potential impacts include:

• Immediate suspension of exports to many international markets.

• Significant production losses.

• Livestock movement restrictions.

• Emergency disease control operations.

• Substantial economic costs to producers and processors.

Previous economic assessments have estimated that a large multi-state outbreak could cost the Australian livestock sector tens of billions of dollars, highlighting why prevention remains far more effective than response.

Advice for Livestock Producers

Animal Health Australia and the Department of Agriculture encourage producers to maintain strong farm biosecurity by:

• Limiting unnecessary animal movements.

• Monitoring livestock for signs of illness.

• Restricting visitor access to farms.

• Cleaning and disinfecting vehicles and equipment.

• Maintaining accurate livestock identification and movement records.

• Reporting any suspected FMD cases immediately through the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline.

Early detection remains one of the most effective tools for protecting Australia’s livestock industries.

One Health Perspective

Although Foot-and-Mouth Disease does not pose a public health risk, it is one of the world’s most important transboundary animal diseases because of its impact on food security, rural livelihoods and international agricultural trade.

Australia’s continued investment in surveillance, regional cooperation and border biosecurity demonstrates the importance of a One Health approach that integrates animal health, trade security and emergency preparedness.

Industry Outlook

With FMD continuing to circulate in parts of Southeast Asia, Australian authorities remain on high alert. Ongoing surveillance, regional collaboration, strict import controls and strong farm-level biosecurity will continue to form the backbone of Australia’s defence against one of the livestock industry’s greatest disease threats.

Maintaining Australia’s internationally recognised FMD-free status remains essential for protecting animal health, sustaining export markets and preserving the competitiveness of the country’s livestock sector.