Australia and New Zealand said on Tuesday they were aware of Chinese media reports of a ban on meat imports from both countries by Beijing but said they had not received any official notice and shipments had been clearing as normal.
The Australian Financial Review newspaper said one Chinese media outlet had reported that agricultural imports, particularly meat, from Australia and New Zealand may be suspended due to concerns about foot and mouth disease.
“We are aware of rumours. The Australian embassy in Beijing has been in contact with China Customs and no formal notification has been issued,” the Australian agricultural department said in an emailed statement.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday that China had no basis for using foot and mouth disease to suspend beef imports, telling national broadcaster ABC in an interview that Australia remained free of the disease and biosecurity officials were acting “very strongly” to handle heightened risks of an outbreak.
Chinese publication World Meat Imports Report had reported late on Sunday that customs clearance for agricultural products from Australia and New Zealand had been suspended and that relevant businesses had been notified, without saying where it got the information. On Monday, it said that customs clearance for Australian farm goods including meat and dairy was back to normal.
The initial report, which wasn’t verified, stoked fears that China was escalating curbs on imports from Australia. Beijing has previously targeted individual abattoirs in the country, citing fears about Covid-19 infections in meat works, as well as the discovery of prohibited drugs in beef products and incorrect labelling on products. Authorities denied the trade bans were linked to deteriorating diplomatic ties at the time.
Steve Ainsworth, Market Access director at the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries, said exports were continuing as normal.
“We’ve made enquiries with Chinese authorities, including through our embassy staff in China. These enquiries confirm that New Zealand products are continuing to be cleared through the border,” he said in a statement.
Neither Australia nor New Zealand has reported a case of foot and mouth disease among livestock. But both nations are taking extra biosecurity precautions after the animal virus was found 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 does not pose a threat to humans.
