Dioxin Contamination- ANZFA Strengthens The Australian Import Restrictions On Cattle, Poultry And Pig Products From Belgium And Lifts Ban On Dairy Products

The Managing Director of the Australia New Zealand Food Authority, Mr Ian Lindenmayer, today announced the strengthening of the Australian import restrictions on cattle, pig and poultry products (including egg products) from Belgium and the lifting of all import restrictions on Belgian dairy products and other foods containing milk fat.

‘ANZFA has been informed that the European Commission’s Standing Veterinary Committee has declared invalid all previous certification issued by the Belgium Authorities that had been based on the tracing of contaminated dioxin feed, ‘ Mr Lindenmayer said.

‘We have acted immediately on this information by asking the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) to strengthen the current 'hold and test' restrictions for Belgian egg yolk as well as cattle, pig and poultry food products, containing greater than 2% animal fat, in line with the new Commission decision.

‘AQIS have been asked only to accept new certification issued on the basis of the testing of individual consignments. This effectively means that consignments without test results will be returned to Belgium or held while the tests for dioxin contamination are carried out.

‘We believe only two consignments from Belgium, one of smoked cheese and one of dried egg yolk, have entered Australia on invalid certificates. We have now traced these products and they were not affected by the dioxin contamination.

‘Secondly, ANZFA has evaluated a comprehensive dossier produced by the Belgian government reporting full dioxin test results for milk and dairy products. These data confirm that dairy products and foods containing milk fat were not affected by dioxin contamination.

‘ANZFA has therefore asked AQIS to lift all import restrictions on dairy products and other foods containing only milk fat,’ Mr Lindenmayer concluded.

ANZFA will continue to monitor and review the situation, as further information becomes available.

For more information: www.foodstandards.gov.au .