Published Thursday, 26 June, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
Queensland only days from being declared EI free
Queensland will be officially declared free of the crippling equine influenza disease on Monday, June 30 - moving Australia one step closer to becoming one of the very few countries in the world to achieve eradication.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said from next Monday, Queensland will be an all-white zone. All horses in Queensland will be able to move freely throughout the state without the need for a waybill.
Mr Mulherin today said measures required to eradicate equine influenza had placed a heavy burden on horse owners and industry but thanks to the co-operation and hard work from the equine industry, the community and the Queensland Government, Queensland could now look forward to an EI-free future.
“The last year has been painful but the effort is worth it,” Minister Mulherin said.
“Not only have we eradicated EI but we have assisted in positioning Queensland’s horse industry for an even more productive future as a unified group with an increased awareness of the importance of biosecurity.’’
DPI&F will continue to monitor for signs of the disease until the end of December, 2008, in order to satisfy the requirements for international recognition for proof of freedom.
“Provided there are no further cases detected we should achieve international recognition of EI freedom on Christmas Day, 2008, one year after the last horses were known to be infected,” Mr Mulherin said.
The green zone’, which includes an area from Millmerran and Stanthorpe in the west, along the New South Wales border to Coolangatta in the South, up to the Sunshine Coast in the North, will become white with the remainder of the state, returning movement restrictions to the way they were before the disease outbreak.
There will be a continued requirement for Queensland horse events to be registered with DPI&F as this will assist with the monitoring requirement for proof of freedom.
To register a horse event, visit the DPI&F website www.dpi.qld.gov.au.
For further information regarding these changes visit the DPI&F website or call the Business Information Centre on 13 25 23.
Media: 3239 6530
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said from next Monday, Queensland will be an all-white zone. All horses in Queensland will be able to move freely throughout the state without the need for a waybill.
Mr Mulherin today said measures required to eradicate equine influenza had placed a heavy burden on horse owners and industry but thanks to the co-operation and hard work from the equine industry, the community and the Queensland Government, Queensland could now look forward to an EI-free future.
“The last year has been painful but the effort is worth it,” Minister Mulherin said.
“Not only have we eradicated EI but we have assisted in positioning Queensland’s horse industry for an even more productive future as a unified group with an increased awareness of the importance of biosecurity.’’
DPI&F will continue to monitor for signs of the disease until the end of December, 2008, in order to satisfy the requirements for international recognition for proof of freedom.
“Provided there are no further cases detected we should achieve international recognition of EI freedom on Christmas Day, 2008, one year after the last horses were known to be infected,” Mr Mulherin said.
The green zone’, which includes an area from Millmerran and Stanthorpe in the west, along the New South Wales border to Coolangatta in the South, up to the Sunshine Coast in the North, will become white with the remainder of the state, returning movement restrictions to the way they were before the disease outbreak.
There will be a continued requirement for Queensland horse events to be registered with DPI&F as this will assist with the monitoring requirement for proof of freedom.
To register a horse event, visit the DPI&F website www.dpi.qld.gov.au.
For further information regarding these changes visit the DPI&F website or call the Business Information Centre on 13 25 23.
Media: 3239 6530