Papua New Guinea Suspends Australian Poultry Imports Over Bird Flu

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has suspended imports of Australian poultry and eggs following the detection of the H5N1 bird flu virus in wild birds in Western Australia.

PNG's National Agriculture and Quarantine Inspection Authority on Monday advised it would stop buying Australian chicken products, including eggs and egg products.

While the majority of Australia's chicken meat is for domestic consumption, PNG is Australia's largest overseas customer, taking about half of Australia's total exports.

Australian chicken meat exports reached a record $133 million in 2023-24, mainly going to the Pacific and South East Asia.

Australian eggs and egg product exports totalled $15.76 million for the 2022-23 financial year.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) revealed the suspension in a market access advice update yesterday afternoon.

It comes after two wild birds found near Esperance in WA tested positive to the devastating strain of avian influenza and other dead birds found in South Australia and WA were being tested.

The Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness confirmed the detection of H5N1 avian influenza in Australia on Friday.

This week one of Australia's largest chicken processors, Ingham's, locked down its WA plants, preventing all non-essential access to its sites after the detection.

According to DAFF, the detection in wild birds does not change Australia's current high pathogen avian influenza (HPAI)-free status and authorities say there is no evidence bird flu has spread or is established on Australian shores.

"We remain free from HPAI in poultry in accordance with World Organisation for Animal Health international standards," the department said in its advice.

Australian Chicken Meat Federation chief executive May Wu said she was not yet in a position to comment on the PNG export ban.

DAFF said it was engaging with PNG to resolve the issue, and some consignments would need to be returned to Australia.