National livestock standstill for foot-and-mouth: cost-benefit analysis

The importance of a national livestock standstill 

A national livestock standstill (NLSS) is a critical strategy in responding to the diagnosis or strong suspicion of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Rapidly implementing movement controls gives the best chance of optimising response options across the country, by limiting the spread of a disease once it is detected, whilst the initial tracing and surveillance is undertaken to determine the extent of the outbreak. 

Cost-benefit of a NLSS 

A national livestock standstill, which involves each state and territory government implementing state/territory-wide movement controls for FMD-susceptible livestock, is the currently agreed national policy following the diagnosis or strong suspicion of foot-and-mouth disease. 

It is important to minimise spread of FMD 

The implementation of response measures, such as a livestock standstill, that potentially reduce the geographical extent and/or duration of an outbreak are important to achieve eradication as quickly as possible. 

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) estimates that a large, multi-state outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease would cost the Australian economy up to $80 billion over 10 years. 

This cost is significant due to the impact of international trade impacts. A NLSS remains a unified, simple mechanism which is easily understood, effective for disease control and remains the agreed national policy and an important strategy to achieving minimising spread as quickly as possible.  

NLSS movement controls are a critical strategy for first response to a detection of FMD and the plans for enacting these controls are regularly tested and refined. There are no plans to revisit the agreed national NLSS policy by the National Biosecurity Committee in the immediate term. Any longer-term consideration of this policy would require extensive consideration and consultation with all stakeholders.  

In the event of a FMD incursion, technical decisions regarding the need or otherwise for a NLSS would be considered by the Consultative Committee for Emergency Animal Disease (CCEAD) which comprises all state and territory Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs) as well as the Australian CVO, the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, and affected industry parties, with recommendations provided to the National Management Group for approval.