{"id":756404,"date":"2026-06-24T03:38:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T03:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/756404\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T03:38:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T03:38:14","slug":"papua-new-guinea-bans-australian-poultry-imports-due-to-bird-flu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/756404\/","title":{"rendered":"Papua New Guinea bans Australian poultry imports due to bird flu"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

PNG’s National Agriculture and Quarantine Inspection Authority on Monday advised it would stop buying Australian chicken products, including eggs and egg products.<\/p>\n

In 2024\u201325, 1.4 million\u00a0tonnes\u00a0of chicken meat was produced in Australia.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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

Australian eggs and egg product exports totalled $15.76 million for the 2022-23 financial year.<\/p>\n

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) revealed the suspension in a market access advice update yesterday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins said the trade ban was uncalled for, given Australia\u00a0remained\u00a0free from H5 bird flu in poultry and\u00a0agriculture\u00a0production systems.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u00a0continue to\u00a0closely\u00a0monitor the detection of H5 bird flu\u00a0in wildlife\u00a0and are\u00a0actively working to provide necessary assurances to trading partners more broadly,” Ms Collins said.<\/p>\n

“We are directly engaging with Papua New Guinea to lift these unnecessary trade restrictions.”<\/p>\n

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<\/a> and WA were being tested.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

Australian company Ingham’s has put its WA chicken processing plants into lockdown. (ABC News: Stephanie Chalmers)<\/p>\n

The Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness confirmed the detection of H5N1 avian influenza in Australia on Friday.<\/p>\n

This week one of Australia’s largest chicken processors, Ingham’s, locked down its WA plants<\/a>, preventing all non-essential access to its sites after the detection.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“We remain free from HPAI in poultry in accordance with World Organisation for Animal Health international standards,” the department said in its advice.<\/p>\n

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

DAFF said it was engaging with PNG to resolve the issue, and some consignments would need to be returned to Australia.<\/p>\n

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