Foot-and-mouth disease vaccine supply deal secured

A major deal with a pharmaceutical company will ensure Australia has access to antigens and vaccines to defend itself against a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Australia is ramping up its defences against foot-and-mouth disease, after tapping a pharmaceutical company to provide antigens and vaccines.

FMD is a severe, highly contagious viral disease that affects cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and camelid species.

An FMD outbreak would be disastrous for Australia's livestock industry and could wipe out an estimated $80 billion of its value in 10 years.

The privately-owned Boehringer Ingelheim was awarded a five-year contract after consideration of Australia's FMD risk profile, the antigens required and the number of doses required.

Under the contract, it will maintain an off-shore antigen bank with rapid vaccine manufacturing capability.

"By maintaining this capability off-shore, Australia maintains its FMD-free status, which is key to market access for our livestock product exports," Animal Health Australia chief executive Samantha Allan said on Wednesday.

While FMD has never been detected in Australia, authorities are closely watching the situation in Indonesia.

"Australia's world-class biosecurity system has kept the disease at bay, but we must plan for every eventuality," Boehringer Ingelheim's head of animal health for Australia and New Zealand Christoph Tautphaeus said.

If there is an outbreak, the company will work with authorities to match the FMD strain to an antigen in the bank and begin vaccine production.

When the right antigen is identified, vaccines can be ready for delivery to Australia within six days.