22 April 2015
Species: All feeder and slaughter livestock
Country: All markets
For information:
- Livestock exporters
- Department of Agriculture Live Animal Exports Officers
- MLA / LiveCorp / ALEC
Purpose
This Export Advisory Notice (EAN) provides advice about the application requirements for an Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS), which allows livestock to move across international borders by land or sea after unloading in a destination market following export from Australia.
Background
The export of livestock for feeder or slaughter purposes requires the Department of Agriculture (the department) to approve an ESCAS prior to export.
Exporters may also seek to include further facilities in their approved ESCAS by submitting an application to vary their approved ESCAS.
The livestock export industry has requested advice as to how exporters may apply for an ESCAS which allows livestock to move across international borders by land or sea.
The department will only be prepared to approve an ESCAS which includes at least one feedlot and at least one abattoir in each country, to ensure that the livestock may be managed in accordance with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) animal welfare recommendations if the international border/s is/are closed due to an unforeseen event.
An important consideration is any ongoing and existing trade in livestock utilising the proposed trade route. The department may seek to confirm any ongoing and existing trade in livestock between countries through diplomatic channels.
The department is not able to issue any further health certification for livestock to be exported across an international border by land or sea after unloading in the initial destination market following export from Australia.
The department will not be prepared to consider approving proposals to move animals by sea across an international border where the movement is to occur concurrently on the same livestock vessel alongside animals that have departed directly Australia but have not yet reached their destination market.
The department may only be prepared to approve applications to move animals by sea across an international border on a voyage by voyage basis subject to additional conditions to manage the risk of rejection or failure to unload in the final destination market.
Instructions
Exporters seeking to apply for an ESCAS which allows livestock to move across international borders must do the following:
1. Identify the approved ESCAS in the market where the livestock will be unloaded/discharged after export from Australia (e.g. Vietnam).
2. Apply to the department to vary the approved ESCAS identified at point 1 to include facilities located in another country (e.g. Cambodia).
Exporters seeking to vary their approved ESCAS to include facilities located in another country must submit the following information to the department:
a. Details of control and traceability arrangements for the proposed supply chain including the additional facilities.
To meet this requirement, exporters may submit a completed 'ESCAS Control and Traceability Declaration' consistent with EAN 2014 – 16 or EAN 2013 - 12 including the additional facilities:
For example:
Feedlot A, Address, Province, COUNTRY X
Abattoir B, Address, Province, COUNTRY Y
Alternatively exporters may seek to submit contractual arrangements or detail of traceability procedures to the department for assessment consistent with EAN 2013-12.
Exporters must clearly indicate in their ‘ESCAS Control and Traceability Declaration’, contractual arrangements or traceability procedures which country each facility is located in.
b. An independent audit report summary for each additional facility to be included in the proposed supply chain including any quarantine facilities where the animals may be held during the movement across the international border(s) consistent with EAN 2015/05 and 2015/06.
Exporters must ensure that the independent auditor confirms that control and traceability outcomes are compliant with the ESCAS regulatory framework.
The independent auditor must also confirm that animal welfare outcomes up to and until the point of slaughter are compliant with the OIE animal welfare recommendations.
c. An independent audit report for the proposed transport arrangements across international borders consistent with EAN 2015/05 and 2015/06
The independent audit report must include confirmation that the transport arrangements within the proposed supply chain are compliant with the OIE animal welfare recommendations.
For movements by sea the ESCAS Animal Welfare Standards referenced in EAN 2015/05 only includes details as to the discharge arrangements in port.
Exporters intending to transport livestock by sea across an international border may:
- arrange for their independent auditor to develop and complete an audit checklist based on the OIE animal welfare recommendations for the transport of livestock by sea for submission to the department; or
- propose a detailed plan outlining and confirming compliance with relevant sections of Standard 4 and Standard 5 of the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (Version 2.3) April 2011 (ASEL) for the proposed voyage(s).
d. A completed ‘Application for an international cross border ESCAS by land’ (Attachment 1) or ‘Application for an international cross border ESCAS by sea’ (Attachment 2).
The information requested in these forms reflects the risks associated with the movement of livestock across international borders by land or sea.
Both attachments require the exporter to confirm that they have contingency plans in place to ensure that the animals are managed in accordance with the OIE animal welfare recommendations for the duration of the land or sea transport across an international border as follows:
For land applications:
- mechanical breakdown of the land transport vehicles
- rejection of the livestock by the destination market
- delayed arrival/unloading in the destination market
For sea applications:
- mechanical breakdown of the livestock vessel(s)
- feed or water shortage during the sea voyage(s)
- an outbreak of disease in the livestock during the sea voyage(s)
- extreme weather conditions during the sea voyage(s)
- rejection of the livestock by the destination market
- delayed arrival/unloading in the destination market
As part of the assessment process the department may require further details about the contingency plans including where applicable any proposed contingency markets.
e. The department may approve an ESCAS application subject to a condition.
Approval conditions for ESCAS allowing livestock to move or be moved across an international border may include but not be limited to the following:
- allow a single movement of livestock by land or sea if the proposal is considered higher risk.
- require exporters to seek, hold and provide to the department upon request, written confirmation from the relevant competent authorities permitting the animals to be exported/imported.
- require exporters to provide the department written confirmation that animals have been moved successfully across an international border.
- require exporters to provide written advice within 12 hours that a destination market has rejected, unexpectedly quarantined/detained or euthanased any animals included in a consignment of livestock within the approved ESCAS that was to be moved or did move across an international border.
Jenny Cupit
Assistant Secretary
Live Animal Exports Branch
Department of Agriculture
Contact officer: Jill Millan / Tim Naylor
Ph: (02) 6272 4581
Email: livestockexp
Attachment 1: Application for an international cross border ESCAS by land 
Word [18 KB]
Attachment 2: Application for an international cross border ESCAS by sea Word [17 KB]