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Further Information on Livestock Export Standards
Why were the standards developed?
The standards were developed in response to Recommendation 1 of the Livestock Export Review (The Keniry Report). The Keniry report was released in 2003 following the Cormo Express incident.
The Australian Government, along with all state and territory governments, then developed six livestock export standards.
The draft Initial Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (initial standards) came into effect on 1 December 2004 to meet the Australian Governments' deadline for enactment of new legislation approved by Parliament in response to the Keniry report's recommendations.
How were the standards developed?
The draft initial standards were developed by six expert working groups. The members of these groups included livestock producers, stock agents, livestock transporters, exporters, ship owners, airline representatives, maritime safety experts and government regulators.
In developing the six draft initial standards, the working groups referred to international and national legislation, codes of practice, industry standards and guidelines.
The Australian Government also commissioned a Livestock Export Standards Advisory Committee (LESAC) to provide advice on the draft initial standards. Following implementation of the standards on 1 December 2004, LESAC was decommissioned having completed its Terms of Reference.
DAFF amended the draft initial standards to reflect the changes recommended by LESAC. Version 1 of the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock were then endorsed by federal, state and territory agriculture Ministers at the Primary Industries Ministerial Council meeting in April 2005.
The version 2 standards
The Australian Government re-established an Advisory Committee, with similar inclusive membership to the decommissioned LESAC to provide advice on the revision, further development and implementation of the Version 1 Standards.
The Version 1 Standards were circulated for stakeholder and public comment in January and February 2006. LESAC and its Technical Working Group worked with stakeholders to review comments received and then developed Version 2 Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock.
The Version 2 Standards were endorsed by federal, state and territory agriculture Ministers in August 2006.
Version 2 was further amended in December 2006 to form Version 2.1. This was done to allow a trial involving cattle and sheep to proceed.
Who will use the standards?
The Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock have formed an important part of the new regulatory arrangements for the livestock export industry.
Livestock exporters will use Version 2.1 Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock to update their Operations and Governance manuals. An Operations and Governance manual must contain the operational procedures that a livestock export business intends to implement to comply with the standards.
In addition, operators of premises registered for preparing, holding or assembling livestock prior to export must submit an operations manual with their application for registration. The manual must contain operational procedures for ensuring that the premises address the standards.
Other participants in the livestock export chain such as livestock producers, livestock transport operators, feed suppliers, stock agents, stock owners, operators and employees of registered premises, stock persons and owners, animal handlers, operators and masters of the livestock vessel etc should integrate the standards into their quality assurance systems.
How will the Standards be reviewed and updated in the future?
The Livestock Export Standards Advisory Committee (LESAC) will provide advice to DAFF on the revision, further development and implementation of standards.
Submissions can be sent to LESAC through the Committee Chair at:
General Manager
Animal and Plant Health Policy
Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2600
A LESAC Technical Working Group will identify issues, new research and scientific findings and advise LESAC of these and make recommendations on revisions to the standards.