Australia: Keeping a finger on the pulse of Indonesian biosecurity

Indonesian demand for Australian cattle remains critical for our export industry and the Indonesian Biosecurity Support Program will play a vital role in securing the future sustainability of our largest live cattle export market. The Program was initiated following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Indonesia in 2022. It was established by MLA in June 2022, and is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and run in partnership with the consultancy firm Ausvet. Prior to the outbreak in 2022, FMD hadn't appeared in Indonesia since the 1980s, while LSD had never been present. As a result, biosecurity was a lower priority for Indonesian feedlots up to that point and feedlots were very hard hit by the outbreak. MLA understood how the economic effect of multiple outbreaks would impact the Indonesian feedlot industry and the possible impact on Australian cattle exports to that country, and recognised an emerging ...