International Trade Council for the National Pork Producers Council, predicts that Australia Federal Court Justice Wilcox may soon implement his decision to ban imports of pork from the US and other countries that have had cases of Post Weaning Multi-Systemic Wasting Syndrome, or PMWS, in their swine herds.

At issue are concerns raised within Australia's pork industry, principally by producer lobby/marketing concern Australian Pork Ltd., that importing pork from nations with PMWS could expose swine herds there to the disease.

Giordano said if Wilcox does implement the ban, the NPPC will waste no time in calling the Australian trade ambassador's office to voice its objection to the move.

He said the Australian government has announced it will appeal the ruling by Wilcox and seek to overturn the ruling.

Dow Jones Newswires reported that the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry issued a statement on the matter. Joanna Hewitt, secretary of the department and the director of plant and animal quarantine, said in the statement that she decided to appeal the May 27 ruling by Wilcox after a thorough examination of the judgment.

The appeal will also seek a stay of orders flowing from the judgment, pending the determination of the appeal, Hewitt said in the statement.

US pork exports to Australia surged during the first quarter of 2005 after implementation of a free trade agreement between the two countries. Australia climbed into the top 10 ranking of international customers for US pork during the first quarter. (Dow Jones)