The ban threatens to prevent quality European horses from participating in this year's Melbourne Cup as well as costing local breeders the chance to book overseas sires for this year's breeding season and, thereby, many millions of dollars.

The President of the AVA, Dr Ian Denney, said: This so-called temporary ban was imposed many weeks ago as an apparent knee-jerk reaction by AQIS to the serious outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the UK.

The ban was and remains utterly absurd. There is no scientific basis for the ban as it is established that horses do not suffer FMD and do not carry the disease within them.

AVA is well-aware of the realities of FMD - we have been leading the fight to help prepare Australia to fight the disease if should it develop here so we are not making a rash or ill-considered demand is seeking an end to this ban.

Australia has been importing horses from countries where FMD is endemic for many years with absolutely no problems whatever, yet AQIS suddenly chose to introduce this temporary ban and has given no sign it will be lifted even though it is unjustified.

Ironically, AQIS is separately allowing the importation of other animals which are susceptible to FMD - alpacas from Peru where FMD is endemic.

The AVA is not opposed to the alpacas coming here because they are also quite safe to import as long as the appropriate hygiene and quarantine protocols are strictly applied, our point is the inconsistency of the present AQIS ban on horses.

The AVA and our specialist equine sub-group, the Australian Equine Veterinary Association, call upon the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Mr Warren Truss, to immediately order the lifting of this ban, Dr Denney said.

It was vital that Mr Truss act immediately because the Australian thoroughbred breeding industry and the racing industry stood to suffer massive damage for no valid reason.

He said: The breeding season starts on September 1st and top-class overseas stallions must be booked many months ahead because they are in demand all over the world.

New Zealand is presently cashing-in on the unnecessary confusion AQIS has created for our industry it is already actively chasing and booking the stallions we would routinely bring to Australia for the coming season.

Mr Truss must show some leadership on this issue or risk being seen by the rural sector as not really representing their best interests.

AVA Media Release