Notice to Industry 3: Transport drivers - Biosecurity requirement

Movement and Quarantine of Live Non-New Zealand Horses

Outcome

The outcome of this document is for transport drivers involved with the transport of imported live non-New Zealand horses from the airport to the post arrival quarantine (PAQ) facility to be informed of their biosecurity requirements and their obligation to comply with these requirements.

This document is provided for information only. To the extent that this document is inconsistent with any import permit, AQIS direction, industry notice or authorisation to enter a quarantine station, the terms and conditions of the import permit, AQIS direction, industry notice or authorisation to enter a quarantine station take precedence and will apply. Failure to comply with a condition of an import permit, AQIS direction, industry notice or authorisation to enter a quarantine station may constitute a criminal offence.

Background

The import of live horses is regulated by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS). Biosecurity Australia has provided recommendations regarding conditions for the import of horses to ensure that any potential quarantine risks, including equine influenza, African horse sickness, surra and Japanese encephalitis, can be managed. Strict pre- and post-arrival quarantine requirements apply to imported horses, and all people and goods that come into contact with imported horses.

The primary disease of concern when handling imported horses is equine influenza. This disease can be transmitted via an infected horse, either directly or via people or equipment in contact with an infected horse. The equine influenza virus can be inactivated in a variety of ways, including by using soaps, detergents, acids and oxidising agents (such as Virkon).

Transport drivers involved with the loading and unloading of imported live horses have the potential to transmit equine influenza virus, even if they have had minimal contact with the animals. Horse transport vehicles also carry a high risk of transmitting equine influenza. The Quarantine Act 1908 provides AQIS officers with the authority to give directions to a person who is moving, dealing with or interfering with goods that are subject to quarantine, this may include taking appropriate decontamination measures.

Personal Biosecurity Requirements

Transport drivers are required to:

• change into AQIS issued overalls on arrival at the corral
• wear disposable overalls over the AQIS issued overalls while in the corral area
• once all horses and grooms are loaded into the trucks and the door seals are in place, remove disposable overalls
• wash exposed areas (face and hands) with soap and water or antibacterial gel and step through a disinfectant foot bath before leaving the corral area.
• proceed to the PAQ
• shower prior to leaving the PAQ, surrender the AQIS overalls for laundering and change back into their own clothes.
  • Refer to the Technical and Operational Reference ‘0.3 TOR - Personal Decontamination’ for more information.

Any personal equipment (e.g. laptops, mobile phones, paperwork etc) used on site at the corral or quarantine station must either remain on the quarantine station until the end of PAQ or be decontaminated prior to leaving the quarantine station by wiping down the equipment with alcohol wipes.

Note: If drivers do not wish to wear two sets of overalls in the corral, they may submit an alternative proposal for keeping the cabin of the truck clean. Alternatives may include either a plastic seat cover (washable/disposable) or showering out at the corral prior to entering the cabin to drive to the quarantine station.

Requirements in the corral

Horse transport vehicles should be cleaned prior to arrival at the corral to transport imported horses. Straw, sawdust and other plant material should not be used as bedding in the trucks prior to loading imported horses.

Once the horses, equipment and personnel have been loaded into the vehicle, the doors will be sealed by an AQIS officer. Note that the door to the grooms’ compartment will not be sealed for OH&S reasons.

AQIS will issue a quarantine direction to the transport driver for the transport vehicle to be treated at the quarantine station.

AQIS will issue a quarantine direction to the importer for the movement of the horses, equipment and groom(s)/vet(s) to the quarantine station.

Transport drivers must provide AQIS with their name, vehicle registration number and contact number and read and sign ‘0.6 Form: Driver details and route to quarantine station’.

Transport drivers will be provided with the contact details of the AQIS team leader and the AQIS Horse Co-ordinator.

Note: Transport drivers must be familiar with the contingency plan for the event of an emergency or accident en route to the quarantine station (submitted to AQIS by the importer) and carry a copy of this and ‘Emergency Personnel Decontamination Information’ (which is attached to ‘4.0 Emergency Procedures’) with them during transport of the horses from the airport to the quarantine station.

Requirements for transport to the Quarantine Station

Transport vehicles must proceed directly to the quarantine station. The requirements for transport to the quarantine station will be detailed on the form ‘2.5 Form: Contact Details and information for transport driver – must carry’. Requirements include:

• The driver must advise AQIS of the route being taken to the quarantine station.
• The AQIS horse coordinator/quarantine station manager must be contacted if for any reason they are required to stop on route.
• If the horse coordinator/quarantine station manager cannot be contacted, the driver must immediately contact the AQIS veterinary officer.
• The driver will be required to carry documentation and blood samples (under AQIS seal) and associated documentation with the horses and deliver these to the quarantine station manager.

Requirements at the Quarantine Station

All transport drivers attending the PAQ must be authorised by AQIS. Drivers must complete training and sign the relevant authorisation form to gain a 12-month permission to enter the quarantine station. If drivers have not completed the training, on arrival at the quarantine station, drivers must read and sign the form ‘3.8b Form: Permission for a veterinarian, farrier or other authorised visitor to enter, leave and take goods into and out of a quarantine station’ in the presence of a quarantine officer. Drivers are required to comply with all requirements outlined in this document and will complete the training prior to leaving the quarantine station.

Only drivers authorised by the importer of the horses will be granted permission to enter the quarantine station. The importer will provide AQIS with the relevant authorisation form for each driver.

Non-essential visitors will not be given authority by AQIS to enter the PAQ.

The official visitors register must be completed and signed in the presence of a quarantine officer upon entry.

Transport drivers will be given dedicated footwear to wear while in the quarantine station.

Horses cannot be unloaded until an AQIS officer is present to supervise the breaking of the door seals and the unloading process. Health certificates, samples and associated documentation must be delivered to the AQIS officer at this time.

Once the horses have been unloaded, the AQIS officer will direct the vehicle to the wash area for cleaning.

• Refer to the Technical and Operational Reference ‘3.2 TOR - Cleaning and Disinfection of Horse Transport Vehicles’.

Once the truck has been cleaned and disinfected and the driver has showered, the cabin of the truck will be inspected by AQIS for quarantine risk material and all surfaces that have been in contact with quarantine risk material (including the drivers’ feet and hands) will be cleaned using alcohol wipes. This may include driving controls, door handles, internal panels and upholstery and floor mats.

On exit the driver must sign out of the quarantine station using the official visitors register.

Responsibilities

AQIS will:

• provide a briefing to all relevant industry groups in advance of a shipment of live horses
• designate a quarantine officer to act as a coordinator for the shipment. This officer will be identified at the pre-flight briefing and clearly identified in the corral area, and will be responsible for coordinating the treatment directions issued for personnel or vehicles
• record the details of all personnel associated with the clearance of the aircraft and/or present in the corral
• supply all necessary equipment identified in the table below as being supplied by AQIS
• direct personnel, cargo, equipment and vehicles for appropriate treatment, depending on the level of quarantine risk posed
• verify that all directions issued by AQIS are complied with.

Transport drivers will ensure that:

• they complete training and sign the permission form for entry into the quarantine station
• they attend a pre-arrival briefing conducted by AQIS for each shipment
• they are aware of their obligation to comply with the directions of an AQIS officer and ensure they work cooperatively with AQIS officers
• procedures detailed above are understood and complied with
• all directions issued by an AQIS officer are complied with.

Equipment

Equipment	Responsibility for supply
Disposible clothing and overalls	AQIS
Showers, Soap, Towels	AQIS
Foot bath containing Virkon solution and hand disinfectant	AQIS
Door seals	AQIS
Virkon and equipment to clean trucks at the quarantine station	AQIS
Change of clothes	Driver
Virkon and other cleaning equipment for cleaning trucks prior to arrival at corral	Driver/Driver’s company
Mobile phone (so AQIS escort can contact driver on route)	Driver/Driver’s company

Version History

Version	Date	Reason for Issue	Author
1.0	23 September 2008	To inform transport drivers of their biosecurity requirements, to incorporate comments from AQIS regions, the HICC and information from the December 2007 SOP.	Amy Guihot
2.0	12 November 2008	To update document following legal advice.	Michelle Blowes
3.0	25 June 2009	Amended following meeting on 13 May 2009	Michelle Blowes