Livestock - Export by sea

Under Australia's Export Control Act 1982, an export permit and a health certificate are required for export of all livestock from Australia.  Livestock are defined as cattle, sheep, goats, buffalo, camelids and deer.

More information on the legislation can be found on the ComLaw website via the links below:

• Export Control Act 1982
• Export Control (Animals) Order 2004

The steps below outline the process involved in preparing livestock for export by sea transport:

1. Obtain an livestock export licence—prepare an operations and governance manual
2. Prepare an Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) – if required
3. Prepare a Notice of intention for livestock exports by sea transport form
4. Comply with the importing country's requirements
5. Pre-export preparation
6. Loading 
7. End of voyage report
8. If an ESCAS is required, submit additional reports as required
9. Auditing 
10. AQIS fees and charges
11. AQIS Animal Exports offices

1. Obtain a livestock export licence—prepare an operations and governance manual

An exporter must have a livestock export licence to export livestock. To obtain further information on export licences, view the Obtaining a livestock export licence web page.

2. Prepare an Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS)

An exporter must provide AQIS with an Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) if proposing to export feeder/slaughter livestock to Indonesia. If an ESCAS is required, complete and return it by fax, email or mail to the Live Animal Exports Program in Canberra.

Phone: 02 6272 4581
Fax: 02 6272 5423
Email: Livestock Exports
Mail: Live Animal Exports Program
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601

To obtain further information on ESCAS, view the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System web page.

3. Forward to AQIS a Notice of intention for livestock exports by sea transport form

Complete a Notice of intention for livestock exports by sea transport (NOI) form and return it by fax, email or mail to the Live Animal Exports Program in Canberra.

Notice of intention for livestock exports by sea transport  PDF [282kb]
Notice of intention for livestock exports by sea transport  Word [145kb]

Phone: 02 6272 4581
Fax: 02 6272 5423
Email: Live Animal Exports
Mail: Live Animal Exports Program
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601

The Export Control Act 1982 requires that the NOI and any other supporting documentation be given to, and approved by the secretary or their delegate before the exporter begins sourcing the animals for export.

The NOI must include information as to how the exporter plans to comply with the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL), the treatment and testing schedule in accordance with the importing country requirements. The import permit (if required) and importing country conditions must also be included. If these documents are not in English, a certified, translated copy is required. AQIS requires certified translation by NAATI level 2/3 translators.

View the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL).

4. Comply with the importing country's requirements

The exporter is responsible for obtaining the importing country requirements and ensuring that the animal(s) are prepared in accordance with the importing country's requirements.

To obtain information on the preparation and health requirements for the species of animal being exported it may be necessary to:

• Visit the official website of the relevant government authority for the destination country.
  
  
• Directly contact the relevant government authority by phone, post or email to obtain the latest import requirements in writing.  The country's embassy may also be able to assist.
  
  
• If the importing country requires an import permit this may also detail the specific preparation and health requirements that need to be met.

Only official documentation published or issued by the relevant government authority in the importing country is acceptable to AQIS as the basis for the preparation and health status of the animal(s) intended for export.  Health certificates will not be issued based on information from other sources other than the official website of the responsible government authority in the importing country or appropriately identified government documents.

All livestock must be assembled at a premise registered by AQIS for the time set out in the ASEL as a minimum. However, if the importing country requires that the livestock be isolated, quarantined or separation the time spent at the registered premise will vary to meet the importing country’s requirements.

If the NOI is approved, AQIS will provide written notification of the approval of the NOI to the exporter and attach one or more 'Approved Export Plans (AEP)'. The approval of the NOI provides permission for the exporter to prepare the livestock in accordance with the NOI.

The AEP includes the tasks to be undertaken by the AQIS Accredited Veterinarian (AAV) assisting the exporter prepare the livestock. The AEP is based on the information supplied in the NOI and may include requirements for: pre-export isolation or quarantine; treatment and testing of the live-stock as required by the importing country protocol or the import permit. The exporter must provide the AEP to the AAV who will undertake the activities in the AEP.

To learn more about AAVs, view the AQIS Accredited Veterinarians (Livestock) web page.

The exporter must supply a copy of this AEP to the exporter's nominated AAV.

If circumstances change after the approval of the NOI, the exporter must to write to AQIS in Canberra to document the changes and obtain approval before continuing preparation.

Any preparation of a consignment undertaken before the approval of the NOI is at the exporter's commercial risk.

5. Pre-export preparation

Once the NOI approval and the AEP are issued the exporter can prepare the consignment for export.

At least three working days before export, the exporter must contact the AQIS regional office to make an appointment for AQIS attendance at the port or at the registered premises. AQIS veterinary officers may inspect the animals for export before at the premises before departing for the port. The exporter must also supply documents to demonstrate that all importing country requirements were met to the AQIS regional office. These include:

• documents to demonstrate that the approved NOI and AEP were complied with
  
  
• declarations from the exporter and accredited veterinarian
  
  
• loading plans
  
  
• other information specific to the importing country requirements or the ASEL

AQIS will assess these documents to ensure that the requirements of the NOI and AEP have been met, and that the travel and loading plans meet the ASEL.

6. Loading

The livestock, feed and water are then loaded in accordance with the approved travel and loading plan. The exporter must then confirm the animal management instructions with the AQIS veterinarian.

After the consignment is loaded, if AQIS is satisfied that all the requirements have been met, AQIS will then issue a health certificate indicating the livestock meet the health requirements of a specified importing country (if required) and the export permit.

7. End of voyage report

If a notifiable incident, as defined in the ASEL, occurs during the journey, AQIS must be must be advised as soon as possible and within 12 hours.

At the completion of the journey, an end of journey report must be completed and sent to AQIS within five working days.

End of voyage report  PDF [39kb]
End of voyage report Word [72kb]

8. If an Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) is required, submit additional reports as required.

The exporter must provide AQIS with an End of Processing (EOP) report on the consignment:

1. within 10 days of the slaughter of the last animal in the consignment; or
2. if the last animal in the consignment is not slaughtered within 180 days from the date of export:
   1. within 190 days from the date of export; and
   2. within 10 days of being notified by AQIS that a further EOP report is required.

At the same time as the EOP report, the exporter must provide to AQIS an audit report on the effectiveness of the exporter's supply chain assurance system. The auditor who provides the report must be a qualified systems auditor independent of the exporter and any participant in the exporter's supply chain.

The EOP report and audit report must be sent to AQIS Live Animal Exports Program at
Fax 02 6272 5423 or
Email: Livestock Exports

In addition to providing the EOP report and audit report, if at any time DAFF notifies the exporter that it requires a report in relation to the consignment, the exporter must provide DAFF with that report within 10 days of receiving the notice.

9. Auditing

The purpose of auditing is to ensure that the exporter is complying with the Australian Meat and Livestock Industry Act 1997, the Export Control Act 1982 and their subordinate legislations.

10. AQIS fees and charges

The fees applicable for the export of livestock are included in the Export Control (Fees) Order 2001, or at www.daff.gov.au/aqis/export/live-animals/fees-charges/exports

11. AQIS Animal Export offices

AQIS offices are open Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).

Office/Region	Address	Phone	Fax
Sydney, New South Wales	1 Crewe Place Rosebery, NSW, 2018	02 8334 7432	02 8334 7430
Melbourne, Victoria and Tasmania	255 Melrose Drive, Tullamarine, VIC 3043	03 8308 5069 or 03 8308 5072	03 8308 5071
Cairns, North Queensland	Airport Administration Centre, Cairns International Airport, QLD 4870	07 4030 7800	07 4035 9578
Brisbane, South Queensland	42-44 Qantas Drive, Eagle Farm, QLD 4009	07 3246 8731	07 3246 8798
Adelaide, South Australia	Adelaide International Airport, Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Export Park, SA 5950	08 8201 6000	08 8305 9820
Perth, Western Australia	9 Fricker Road, Perth Airport, WA 6105	08 9334 1555	08 9334 1668
Darwin, Northern Territory	1 Pederson Road, (Cnr Henry Wigley Road), Marrara, NT 0812	08 8920 7000	08 8920 7011
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory	18 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra City, ACT 2601	02 6272 4581	02 6272 5423

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Please note: The information provided in this web page is intended for use as guidance only and should not be taken as definitive or exhaustive. The Live Animal Exports Program endeavours to keep this web page current and accurate, however, it may be subject to change without notice. The general public are advised to contact the relevant AQIS office for the latest information.