Papua New Guinea has suspended imports of Australian chicken meat and eggs after two cases of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza were confirmed in wild birds in Western Australia, according to a market access advice published by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
PNG's Ban on Australian Poultry
Papua New Guinea's National Agriculture and Quarantine Inspection Authority moved this week to ban chicken meat and product imports from Australia, despite authorities stating there is no evidence of a broader spread and no recorded infections within the poultry industry. The decision was revealed in a market access advice published by DAFF.
“The department is actively engaging with PNG to resolve this issue,” DAFF said in the advice.
Australia's Chicken Export Market
Most Australian chicken meat is for domestic consumption, but exports reached $133 million in 2023-24, with nearly half of that going to PNG. The suspension could significantly impact Australian poultry exporters, though the full economic effect is yet to be determined.
H5N1 Cases in Wild Birds
Two cases of the H5N1 virus have been confirmed in birds found on a remote beach in Western Australia. Testing is underway on potential new infections both there and in South Australia. Authorities are working to determine how many wild birds have been infected.
No Evidence of Broader Spread
Despite the confirmed cases, authorities say there is no evidence of a broader spread of the virus, and no infections have been recorded within the poultry industry. The risk to human health remains low, but authorities are monitoring the situation closely.
