Fed: Six new dog teams to keep FMD out of Aust: Truss

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2001
Fed: Six new dog teams to keep FMD out of Aust: Truss

CANBERRA, April 11 AAP - Six new dog teams will soon be working Australian airports
to keep out foot-and-mouth disease, Agriculture Minister Warren Truss said today.

Two additional large-frame X-ray machines had also been installed at Kingsford Smith
Airport, Mr Truss said.

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) had moved quickly to ensure
Australia kept out foot-and-mouth, which was detected in the United Kingdom in late February,
he said.

"Since February, AQIS has deployed 70 additional staff and five new X-ray units at
international airports around Australia and has six new dog teams in training," he said
in a statement.

"New dog teams and additional X-ray capacity at Sydney airport will help take some
of the load from AQIS staff who have been working extra shifts and overtime to enforce
extra quarantine checks, while keeping passengers flowing through the airports."

Mr Truss was in Sydney today to inspect the dogs.

The dog teams and X-ray machines are being used along with tougher quarantine restrictions
and a series of bans on meat products and livestock from the UK, Ireland and Europe.

Mr Truss said people coming to Australia for the Easter holidays should ensure they
tell quarantine officials of their movements.

"People should make the right quarantine declarations and shouldn't try to bring items
of quarantine concern into Australia," he said.

All farmers, agricultural employees and backpackers are being referred to quarantine
officials as they enter the country.

Australians leaving the country are being supplied foot-and-mouth information flyers.

AAP sw/kjp/apm

KEYWORD: UK DISEASE AUST

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