The federal government might invoke new biosecurity powers at Australian airports as early as this afternoon as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) spreads through Indonesia. 

If enacted by the Australian director of biosecurity, every traveller returning from Indonesia would be compelled to use foot mats or take other directions regarding biosecurity.

It would be the first time the rules have been used since the 2015 Biosecurity Act was introduced. 

As part of the bolstered action, biosecurity response zones would be established at international airports.

At present, individual passengers deemed to be a risk need to be asked, and have to agree, to use foot mats and have their shoes cleaned.

The new measures would make this process mandatory under a three-month trial, but would only apply to those travellers returning from Indonesia.

There have been calls from some members of the federal opposition — including former Agriculture Minister David Littleproud — to consider closing the border to Indonesia. 

Speaking at a joint press conference, Agriculture Minister Murray Watt and National Farmers Federation president Fiona Simson both dismissed the idea.

"It would put at risk a trade that is very valuable."

FMD has long been present in countries beyond Indonesia, but the proposed measures reflect the heightened concern of the disease's spread in such a near neighbour. 

Australia remains FMD free, despite detections of viral fragments in meat products this week in Melbourne and Adelaide.

Ms Simson, who travelled to Indonesia with Senator Watt last week to inspect biosecurity and market arrangements, said it was imperative the live virus did not enter the local livestock industry.

"If even one case was to emerge in Australia, farmers would be faced with heart-wrenching decisions around the extermination, culling and euthanasing of livestock to stop the spread of the disease," she said.

"We can not allow this to happen."

Amid an increasingly politicised debate, Senator Watt called for calm and said Australia's reputation as a clean agricultural producer remained intact.

"Australian meat products are safe to eat. We continue to enjoy the cleanest, safest meat and dairy products in the world," he said.