Notice to Industry 6: Visitors to the AQIS post arrival quarantine station - Biosecurity requirements

Movement and Quarantine of Live Non-New Zealand Horses

Outcome

The outcome of this document is for visitors to the AQIS post arrival quarantine (PAQ) facility for horses 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 in PAQ 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, water glass solution, acids and oxidising agents (such as Virkon).

Any person in close proximity to imported horses in PAQ has the potential to transmit equine influenza virus. Equipment used in the handling and treatment of the horses in PAQ also carries a 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

Visitors to the PAQ are required to:

• wear dedicated clothing and footwear in the quarantine station whilst contacting horses. This clothing and footwear must remain in the quarantine station (and must be laundered prior to release from the quarantine station)
• undertake a complete head to toe, 3 minute shower and change into fresh clothing and footwear immediately before leaving the quarantine station.
  • Refer to the Technical and Operational Reference ‘Personal Decontamination’ for more information.

Any personal equipment (e.g. laptops, mobile phones, paperwork etc) used on site 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. As such, visitors are advised to only take essential equipment in to the quarantine station. Secure storage is available at the gate for valuable items, not needed inside the quarantine station.

Requirements at the Quarantine Station

All visitors to the PAQ must be given permission by AQIS. Only visitors authorised by the importer of the horses will be considered by AQIS for authorisation. The importer will provide AQIS with authorisation by submitting the form ‘3.9b Form: Authorisation for a veterinarian, farrier or other authorised visitor to attend to horses in a quarantine station’ or ‘3.9a Form: Authorisation for a groom to attend to horses in a quarantine station’ for each visitor. Non-essential visitors will not be given permission by AQIS to enter the PAQ.

On arrival visitors 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 the quarantine station’ in the presence of a quarantine officer. Visitors are required to comply with all requirements outlined in this document. The official visitors register must be completed; photo identification will be required and the register needs to be signed in the presence of a quarantine officer.

Maintenance staff, contractors and emergency service staff will be escorted within the PAQ and supervised in exit procedures.

No items of equipment may be taken into the quarantine station except with the permission of the quarantine station manager. All equipment used in the feeding, handling and treatment of the horses in PAQ must be new or cleaned and disinfected before use and must be used only in the premises for the duration of the PAQ unless otherwise approved by AQIS.

All equipment must be disinfected to the satisfaction of AQIS prior to removal from the PAQ.

• Refer to the Technical and Operational Reference ‘3.1 TOR - Cleaning and disinfection of equipment’ for more detailed information.

Health records for each horse are held on the clipboard at a designated area within the horse compound. Any abnormalities in the health of the horse, diagnosis or treatments implemented must be detailed on the horse’s health record. Any health problems affecting horses or other stock on the premises during PAQ must be promptly reported to the supervising AQIS Veterinarian, the quarantine station manager or delegate.

All personnel entering the horse compound must agree to report any breach or suspected breach of quarantine procedures (by that or any other person) to the quarantine station manager.

On exit all visitors in the presence of a quarantine officer must sign out of the quarantine station using the official visitors register and follow any exit procedures.