Lumpy skin disease outbreak in Italy – impacts on imports
30 June 2025
Following notification on 23 June 2025 of an outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in cattle in Sardinia, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has removed Italy from its list of LSD-free countries and the list of countries approved for bovine fluids and tissues.
The Department is therefore restricting the importation of high-risk goods sourced, manufactured or processed in Italy after 25 April 2025. See the Department’s Trade situation in Europe webpage for full details. A summary of key points is below.
Goods impacted
- Goods containing greater than 10% dairy by dry weight where the dairy is sourced, manufactured or exported from Italy, other than commercially prepared and packaged chocolate. This includes goods that contain more than 10% dairy by dry weight in total but less than 10% Italian dairy.
- Pet food and stock feed containing or derived from bovine materials sourced, manufactured or exported from Italy.
- Veterinary therapeutics containing or derived from bovine materials sourced, manufactured or exported from Italy.
- Laboratory goods containing bovine fluids and tissues, including but not limited to animal fluids and tissues, culture media, foetal bovine serum and other laboratory materials, where the permit states bovine material is sourced, manufactured or exported from Italy. Reproductive material derived from cattle, water buffalo and susceptible zoo animals, such as zoo bovids, sourced or exported from Italy.
Goods not impacted
- Goods containing less than 10% dairy by dry weight and no other ingredients of biosecurity concern for human consumption.
- Lactose, solid chocolate, including imitation chocolate, and ghee for human consumption.
- Collagen, with a permit, for human consumption.
- Retorted dairy, meat and petfood, with a permit.
Goods in transit or produced before 25 April
Any goods in transit will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and potentially subject to biosecurity measures. Assessment may include consideration of whether the product or ingredients were fully finished or exported from Italy before 25 April 2025.
Future imports
Dairy products sourced from, processed or manufactured in Italy after the 25 April 2025 cut-off date may still be permitted with additional risk management requirements. These additional risk management requirements have been developed in line with the recommendations of the Import risk review for dairy products for human consumption – final report (the dairy review) and will require updates to import permit conditions and health certificate wording.
Member action
The Department will contact affected importers to vary import permit conditions to reflect these changes as required. Products and consignments which fail to meet these additional requirements may not be permitted entry into Australia and may be directed for export, treatment, or destruction.
The AFGC recommends members subscribe to receive the Department’s industry advice notices to keep abreast of this, and other issues impacting imports.
You can also contact Devika Thakkar, AFGC Regulatory Advisor – Scientific and Technical at the AFGC if you have any questions or would like assistance liaising with the department.
Background
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a serious viral disease that primarily affects cattle and buffalo. The disease can result in animal welfare issues and significant production losses. LSD is a disease of animals and does not pose a risk to human health.
Australia is free from LSD and has never had an incursion of the disease. There would be severe consequences for animal health and trade of dairy, meat, and livestock if LSD was to occur and hence Australia has very strict import requirements for many animal-based products.
Dr Duncan Craig
Director – Nutrition and Regulation
