Notice to Industry 2: Freighter Aircraft Operations Personnel - Biosecurity Requirements

Movement of Live Non-New Zealand Horses by freighter aircraft operations personnel

Application

Under the Quarantine Act 1908, the Director of Quarantine has a discretion to give a permission under section 44B subject to conditions.

These conditions apply to any and all freighter aircraft operations personnel, including cargo handlers, airport ground staff operators, air crew members and horse transport drivers who have been given permission under section 44B of the Quarantine Act 1908 to move, deal with or interfere with live non-New Zealand horses that have arrived in Australia on freighter aircraft if that permission has been given subject to the conditions set out in this Notice to Industry.

Conditions of permission to move horses

For the purposes of the following conditions, quarantine risk material includes horse feed, equipment or manure. Material provided in italics is provided for information only, and is not part of the conditions.

A permission provided under section 44B of the Act is subject to the following conditions:

You must ensure that:

General Obligations

(a) you appoint a co-ordinator to assist the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS), in managing the clearance of horses
(b) any personnel involved with the unloading or reloading of the aircraft and the clearance of cargo or crew attend a pre-arrival briefing conducted by AQIS for each shipment
(c) all personnel comply with the directions of an AQIS officer and work cooperatively with AQIS officers
(d) appropriate personnel/contractors are available for cleaning the aircraft and/or corral; and
(e) all equipment identified below as being your responsibility is supplied to your personnel by you.

Category A – high quarantine risk

(f) Whether or not directed by an AQIS officer, persons performing activities that come into direct or very close contact with horses or quarantine risk material, including but not limited to, grooms accompanying the horses, importing agents, cleaners, truck drivers, and any personnel in the corral either:

i. Shower before leaving the corral area at the airport and surrender clothing to an AQIS officer for laundering and change into new clothing; or
ii. Proceed directly to the post arrival quarantine (PAQ) facility and shower when leaving the PAQ facility and surrender clothing to an AQIS officer for laundering and change into new clothing.

Category B- medium quarantine risk

(g) Persons performing activities in the near vicinity of horses or quarantine risk material, that are NOT directly supervised by an AQIS officer, including but not limited to scissor lift operators, ramp drivers, on board cargo handlers only touching the outside of the horse stalls, customs officers, flight crew, MDL operator and Main Panel Operators:

i. Must not contact horses or quarantine risk material. If there is exposure (e.g. direct contact with a horse, quarantine risk material, or in-contact equipment) then the freight-handler should be classified as Category A and be required to undergo full decontamination
ii. wash exposed areas (face and hands) with soap and water or alcohol based antibacterial gel/alcohol wipes and step through a disinfectant foot bath before leaving the area.

Note: Tug drivers may be required to wear disposable overalls depending on their exposure to/in the corral.

Category C- low quarantine risk

(h) Persons performing activities not related to horses or quarantine risk material and are directly supervised by an AQIS officer (including but not limited to, tug drivers, lower deck loader operators, low deck drivers, refuellers) must remain clear of the operations so that no additional biosecurity measures are required and/or, where directed by an AQIS officer, use footbaths and wash their face and hands when exiting the aircraft. If there is exposure, personnel may be classified as Category A or B and be required to undergo appropriate decontamination.

Cargo Requirements

(i) Where an AQIS officer directs that treatment or decontamination of cargo on board the aircraft must occur, the person(s) responsible for the aircraft comply with that direction. For cargo transiting to another Australian port, treatment may be completed in the initial arrival port, or when unloaded at the final Australian destination, if required.

Cargo on board the aircraft may be subject to decontamination measures if an AQIS officer assesses that it presents a quarantine risk.

The airline must identify all cargo that will be unloaded in the arrival port, or any subsequent Australian port and provide this information to the AQIS team leader. An AQIS officer will conduct a risk assessment and determine if any cargo to be unloaded at that port requires decontamination treatment, and direct that the treatment be undertaken prior to the cargo leaving the airport precinct.

Aircraft Requirements

(j) Where an AQIS officer directs that treatment of the aircraft occur, the person(s) responsible for the aircraft comply with the direction.

Aircraft may be directed to be cleaned before re-loading occurs to address quarantine risks. Additionally, aircraft may require treatment to minimise the risk of any export horses being exposed to live viruses, and subsequently becoming infected. AQIS officers may direct the aircraft be treated using solutions such as water glass solution. This solution should be used sparingly to reduce solution accumulation in the plane.

Non-compliance with these conditions

Failure to comply with the above conditions may constitute a criminal offence under the Quarantine Act 1908.

Notice to Industry 2: Freighter aircraft operations personnel – Movement and Quarantine of Live Non-New Zealand horses v5

[Insert date]

[Insert addressee details]

Dear [insert details]

Permission to move live non-New Zealand horses that have arrived in Australia on freighter aircraft

I, [insert name], a Director of Quarantine appointed under section 9 of the Quarantine Act 1908 / a delegate of the Director of Quarantine appointed under section 10B of the Quarantine Act 1908 [Choose one depending on the signatory], under subsection 44B(7) of the Act, hereby permit [insert company details] and all persons engaged by [insert company details] to move, deal with or interfere with live non-New Zealand horses that have arrived in Australia on freighter aircraft subject to the conditions stated in the Industry Notice entitled “Movement of Live Non-New Zealand Horses by freighter aircraft operations personnel”, as varied from time to time.

Please note that failure to comply with the conditions of this permission may constitute a criminal offence under subsection 44B(4) of the Quarantine Act 1908.

A copy of the current Industry Notice is enclosed. The most up to date version will be available at the following address: [insert website address]. Please ensure you are aware of the most up to date version.

Please do not hesitate to contact [insert contact details] on [insert telephone number] if you have any queries.

[insert signature block]