NEW QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS FOR CATS EXPORTED FROM AUSTRALIA TO COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION.

The (UK) Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food advised all authorised quarantine premises in England, Wales and Scotland of a ban on importation of cats from Australia unless they are certified as being free from the Hendra virus, as determined by blood tests. Licenses already granted to quarantine establishments for importation of cats from Australia were revoked. Similar measures were adopted by other countries of the European Union.

Additional bans exist on dogs and cats imported from Malaysia.

After some further negotiations between the European Commission and the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS), it was determined that the required certification could be satisfied by blood testing which can be done (only) at the Australian Animal Health Laboratories, Geelong.

It is likely that there could be further revision of these requirements. Exporters requiring additional information should contact John Hayhoe, Principal Veterinary Officer, AQIS, on 02 6272 5484.

Readers may not immediately recognize the name of the disease referred to in these new quarantine regulations. 'Hendra virus' is the name now given to the virus responsible for the new disease that caused death in horses (and very rarely people) in Queensland in 1994, and once since then. Cat owners should not be alarmed by these developments. Australian authorities are quick to point out that absolutely no evidence of naturally occurring infection has ever been found in cats, even those closely associated with infected horses. The apparent basis for the 'European alarm' is the fact that cats experimentally infected by the virus do develop a fatal disease.