Biosecurity crackdown targets pet food

The Department of Agriculture says it will destroy animal based pet food that doesn't meet Australia's biosecurity standards.

"Animal based pet food often contains high-risk ingredients such as beef, pork, lamb, chicken and fish," Deputy Secretary of Biosecurity and Compliance Chris Locke said.

Dr Locke warned that substandard pet food can be a disease risk not only to pets but also to livestock.

"And unfortunately, people don't just feed pet food to pets. Studies have found that pet food can be fed to livestock, like pigs and chickens, and can even be consumed by wild animals," he said.

Dr Locke said pet food can contain diseases that can infect livestock including foot and mouth disease, lumpy skin disease, African swine fever and avian influenza.

And the department has pet food importers in its sights.

"If you're an importer and want to bring animal-based pet food into Australia, you will need to make sure you are meeting Australia's biosecurity conditions, otherwise you could see your product destroyed," Dr Locke said.

Earlier this year authorities ramped up biosecurity efforts for Australian passengers returning from Indonesia after foot and mouth disease was detected in the country.

It is estimated there is an 11 per cent risk of the highly contagious livestock disease entering Australia in the next five years.

Australian Associated Press