Australia Opens Molecular Lab in Timor-Leste to Combat Exotic Animal Diseases

A foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Australia would trigger export bans and have severe economic consequences for Australia’s livestock producers. Australia's Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

A portable molecular lab that will be used to detect exotic animal diseases and biosecurity threats has opened in Timor-Leste following a seven-year joint project between Australia and the Timorese government.

Created in partnership between Agriculture Victoria and Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the purpose-built lab aims to equip Timorese vets with resources to sample suspect animals and provide a diagnosis before the disease can spread.