DAFF - IIAN : 133-2026 African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in Finland

4 August 2026

Who does this notice affect?

Importers and brokers who import or work with goods containing material derived from African swine fever (ASF) susceptible species (i.e. all breeds and types of domestic pigs and wild pigs) from Finland.

What is happening?

On 31 July 2026 Finland notified the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) of an outbreak of ASF. The department has undertaken a risk assessment and determined that Finland should no longer be considered free from ASF from 17 June 2026.

To manage the biosecurity risk to Australia, the department has removed Finland from the:

• List of countries approved for pig meat
• List of countries for natural casings derived from porcine animals
• List of countries approved for suid (porcine) fluids and tissues.

Impacted goods include:

• uncanned or unretorted pig meat from Finland
• porcine casings sourced from Finland
• laboratory goods containing porcine fluids and tissues (including but not limited to animal fluids and tissues, culture media and other lab materials) sourced from Finland
• veterinary and human therapeutics containing ingredients sourced from Finnish pigs.

What happens next?

The department will also be in contact with permit holders and permit applicants if there are any changes required to your import permit.

More information will be made available via BICON alerts, industry advice notices and other official communication channels as this work progresses.

Goods in transit

Any goods in transit will be held and assessed on a case-by-case basis. Generally, product manufactured prior to 17 June 2026 may be released from biosecurity control if suitable evidence can be supplied to biosecurity officers. 

Product manufactured after 17 June 2026 may not be permitted entry into Australia and may be directed for re-export or destruction. Importers and brokers that are unsure of the status of their goods should contact imports@aff.gov.au for advice before arranging for the export of any product to Australia.

Further information

More information about ASF can be found on the department's website.

Please contact the department by phone 1800 900 090 or email to imports@aff.gov.au if you have any questions.