Australia and New Zealand said meat shipments to China were clearing customs as normal despite reports in Chinese media of a ban on imports from both countries. The Australian Financial Review newspaper reported that a Chinese media outlet reported that imports of agricultural products, particularly meat, from Australia and New Zealand may be suspended due to concerns about foot-and-mouth disease. “We know the rumours. The Australian Embassy in Beijing has been in contact with China Customs and no official notification has been issued,” a spokesperson for Australia’s agriculture department said in an emailed statement on Tuesday. Steve Ainsworth, director of market access at New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries, said exports were continuing as normal. “We have made inquiries with the Chinese authorities, including through our Embassy staff in China. These investigations confirm that New Zealand products continue to be cleared across the border,” he said in a statement. Neither Australia nor New Zealand has reported an outbreak of FMD in animals. But both nations are taking extra biosecurity precautions after the animal virus was detected in the popular Indonesian holiday destination of Bali. Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious animal disease that affects cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, but is not a threat to humans. The Australian government predicts a widespread foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the country could have an immediate economic impact of about A$80 billion ($56 billion).
