Notice to Industry 7: Veterinary Therapeutics - Live Animals

Notice to Industry 7: Veterinary Therapeutics – Live Animals

Outcome

The outcome of this document is for veterinarians, grooms or livestock officers travelling with imported live animals or entering Australia before/after travelling with exported live animals and carrying veterinary therapeutics - 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 animals and veterinary therapeutics is regulated by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS). Biosecurity Australia has provided recommendations regarding conditions for the import of horses and therapeutics to ensure that any potential quarantine risks can be managed. Veterinarians (& sometimes grooms/livestock officers) travelling with imported animals or entering Australia in relation to travel with export animals often carry a ‘kit’ of veterinary therapeutics.

Scope

This notice is intended to cover the following scenarios:

1. A vet/groom/livestock officer arrives in Australia with imported animals and a veterinary therapeutics kit, stays for a short time in Australia and leaves during the next day or two from the same airport/port.
2. A kit is imported with shuttle stallions for use ‘in flight’ and is held by AQIS until it is re-exported when the stallion is re-exported (usually 6 months after import).
3. A vet/groom/livestock officer arrives in Australia with imported animals and a veterinary therapeutics kit and stays overnight and flies interstate to leave again with (export horses) requiring his/her kit for travel.
4. A vet/groom travelling on a ship with horses imported by sea wishes to travel to an airport/another ship to leave Australia.
5. A vet/groom departs Australia with a consignment of animals (AUS export) and returns on a commercial flight as a passenger carrying his/her kit back with them as baggage.
6. Other scenarios that are equivalent in biosecurity risk.

Note: AQIS will not release goods from quarantine unless the conditions under this section can be met i.e. importer can demonstrate, with appropriate documentation, to the AQIS regional office that a permit is not required; or that a valid import permit is presented with supporting documents to the AQIS regional office which allows the goods to be cleared.

This notice does NOT cover veterinary therapeutics that are imported with a domestic dog or cat.

Any actions by AQIS relating to the inspection, detention or clearance of veterinary therapeutics may incur charges.

Veterinary Therapeutics & Medicines Requirements

Veterinary therapeutics and medicines for use in imported horses/livestock/animals can only be imported if they are fully synthetic or have an import permit.

In the case of synthetic veterinary therapeutics and medicines it is the importer’s responsibility to provide sufficient documentation to satisfy AQIS that a medication is fully synthetic. A manufacturer’s declaration can achieve this. Otherwise, the medication will be treated as non-synthetic and will be destroyed upon release of the animal from quarantine.

Information regarding AQIS import conditions for veterinary therapeutics and medicines that are not synthetic is available on the AQIS web site in the Import Conditions database at http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/homecontent.asp (enter " Veterinary therapeutics and medicines" into the search field).

Veterinary therapeutics and medicines that are not fully synthetic and do not have an import permit will be seized by AQIS and the owner advised that an import permit is required for the medication.

Note: If you are not sure whether an import permit is required, contact the AQIS Biologicals Program for assistance (02 6272 3933 - switchboard or email).

Veterinary therapeutics and medicines prescribed for the treatment of a specific disease/ailment in an imported animal may be imported with the animal and used in the quarantine station, only where the medication is commercially prepared and packaged. Non-essential preventative medications, such as vaccines, are not permitted under this case.

Veterinary therapeutics and medicines that accompany a horse into a quarantine station will not be released from the quarantine station but will be destroyed upon release of the animal from quarantine. If the imported veterinary medication is intended for release with the animal from quarantine they must meet the import requirements outlined above. Note: all medication entering the quarantine station must be declared to the quarantine station manager/quarantine officer. Any medication intended for use during quarantine this must be recorded on the veterinary treatment record for the relevant horse at the relevant quarantine station.

If the medications are to be exported with a veterinarian or groom or livestock officer exiting from the state of import, they will be held by AQIS until such time as they are exported. This is the case for scenarios 1 & 2 in the scope section above.

• The items will be double bagged and sealed and held by AQIS until the day of export. Note: the items will be held at the airport/port/regional office at the discretion of the AQIS officer. The holding of these items may incur charges.
• The passenger must notify AQIS at least 1.5 hours prior to departure to organise handover of the items.
• Items must be handed over by AQIS prior to the passenger checking in bags (to meet airport security requirements).

If the medications are to be exported with a veterinarian or groom or livestock officer exiting from another state to the state of import (this is the case for scenarios 3 & 4 in the scope section above):

• The items will be double bagged and sealed, and hold quarantine tape must be applied.
• The goods must be ordered into quarantine and directed for export.
• The package must be provided back to the passenger along with the direction to export. The passenger must present to the AQIS office in the state of export prior to departure so AQIS can confirm that the items are being exported.
• The quarantine officer/horse coordinator will contact the AQIS office in the state of export (the horse coordinator or airport manager or livestock export officer) to advise the name of the passenger, the details of the item and the seal number. The quarantine officer/horse coordinator should request the AQIS office in the state of export advise when the parcel has been re-exported.
  If the medications are ‘returning to Australia’ with a veterinarian/groom/livestock officer after use with an export consignment of live animals (this is the case for scenario 5 in the scope section above):
• The kit may be held by AQIS until it is needed for the next consignment of export animals (see scenarios 1-4 above),or
• All medications must meet the requirements for the importation of veterinary therapeutics and medicines. or
• Any partially used medications will be seized and destroyed; and
• Any commercially packaged, unopened medications that are registered for use in Australia and have been purchased in Australia (proof of purchase such as itemised receipt is required) may be released. Note: AQIS strongly recommends that any proof of purchase documents be presented to AQIS for checking prior to export to ensure a high likely hood the documentation and medications will be acceptable for clearance upon return to Australia. A statutory declaration will be required for all commercially packaged unopened medications intended to be cleared in this way.

Version History

Version	Date	Reason for Issue	Author
1.0	28 September 2009	To inform veterinarians of the biosecurity requirements, for veterinary therapeutics	Michelle Blowes