The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has released the final report for the Biosecurity import risk analysis of live sturgeon for aquaculture (the sturgeon BIRA).
The sturgeon BIRA assessed the biosecurity risks associated with the import of live sturgeon (Acipenser and Huso species) from all countries for aquaculture.
The final BIRA report recommends that Acipenser and Huso species be permitted import into Australia, provided they comply with a range of appropriate biosecurity measures. These measures include sourcing from disease-free stocks, pre-export and post-arrival quarantine, parasite treatment, egg disinfection and testing for disease agents.
In addition to the biosecurity measures required under the Biosecurity Act 2015, the import of live sturgeon and their reproductive material into Australia also have requirements under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and under relevant Australian state and territory legislation.
Before an import permit application to import live sturgeon and their reproductive material for aquaculture purposes can be considered by the department or the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, several activities need to be completed and the final import conditions published on our Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) webpage.
Please refer to the implementation statement for these activities at https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/policy/risk-analysis/animal/live-sturgeon-foraquaculture.
The provisional sturgeon BIRA was notified to WTO Members on 13 March 2024 (G/SPS/N/AUS/582) with a referral period ending 11 April 2024.
The final BIRA report can be accessed at https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecuritytrade/policy/risk-analysis/animal/live-sturgeon-for-aquaculture.
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