Indonesia has paused exports from four Australian facilities pending further testing of animals after a small number of exported cattle were detected with the disease.
But Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said Australia remained free of lumpy skin disease.
“We have never had a positive detection on our shores,” he said.
“Australian officials are working with Indonesian authorities to reassure them that all animals exported from Australia comply with all Indonesian requirements.”
The Federal Government has briefed state and territory ministers, met with Australia’s ambassador to Indonesia and other departmental officers, and begun rapid diagnostic testing of cattle across northern Australia.
Senator Watt said Australian producers and the beef supply chain could be assured the government was working to resolve the issue.
On Sunday, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said it had been advised by the Indonesian Agriculture and Quarantine Agency that lumpy skin disease been detected in a small number of Australian cattle exported to Indonesia — after those cattle had arrived and spent some time in Indonesia.
“Given the presence of LSD in Indonesia, positive results in cattle post arrival in Indonesia are not unexpected,” Australia’s chief veterinary officer Mark Schipp said.
“There is no cause for concern for Australian cattle producers, as Australia remains LSD-free,” Dr Schipp said.
The Red Meat Advisory Council and National Farmers’ Federation issued a joint statement following the report from Indonesia.
“The robust systems that Australia has for the ongoing monitoring of our animal disease status supports us to trade around the world,” council chair John McKillop said.
NFF president Fiona Simson said Australian livestock products continue to be traded, including live cattle to Indonesia.
Australian cattle producers have been on high alert for the disease since it was first detected in livestock in Indonesia in March last year.
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