Become a livestock exporter

You must apply to us for a new:

• livestock export licence
• approved arrangement (AA)
• approved export program (AEP).

Complete the application form

Use the application for a new livestock export licence, approved arrangement or approved export program form to apply for these requirements.

You may be able to apply for an exemption to an AA or AEP. Find out if you are eligible to apply for an exemption. 

Prepare financial information

You must include financial information in your application.

We require an audited:

• asset and liability statement for the previous financial year
• profit and loss statement for the previous financial year.

We look for evidence to show you are financially viable.

Get an AFP National Police Certificate

We conduct a fit and proper person test on applicants for new livestock export licences. To support this process, you must provide an individual National Police Certificate for:

• the applicant, and
• all persons who manage or control the export operations

The National Police Certificate must be issued by the Australian Federal Police within the 6 month period prior to submitting your application.

Further requirements will apply when you renew or vary your livestock export licence.

Develop your proposed approved arrangement (AA)

Draft your AA. We provide guidelines and information to assist with drafting your approved arrangement.

Your AA must cover the relevant types of exports you propose to export to, including all:

• markets
• species
• classes of livestock
• modes of transport.

Your AA must include a standard export plan (SEP) for each proposed export market and species to be exported.

Develop your proposed approved export program (AEP)

Draft your AEP. We provide guidelines and information to assist with drafting your approved export program.

AEPs are specific to components of consignment, including the market, species and class.

The 3 core components of an AEP are:

• governance arrangements of the exporter, including exporter information and record keeping
• instructions for land-based accredited veterinarians for pre-export activities
• instructions for accredited veterinarians accompanying voyages by sea.

Submit

Complete the relevant sections of the application for a new livestock export licence, approved arrangement or approved export program form.

Ensure your application includes:

• financial statement information
• an individual National Police Certificate issued by the AFP, for yourself and all persons who manage or control the export operations
• proposed AA and all supporting documents
• proposed AEP and all supporting documents.

Submit your application to livestockexp@aff.gov.au.

Assessment

We will contact you if we need more information.

We assess applications in accordance with our client service standards. We will inform you of your application status if there are delays.

See our service standards.

We will notify you in writing as to the outcome of your application.

Initial audit of your approved arrangement

Before we can approve a new AA, we will audit your business system. This audit will be on the procedures set out in your AA and AEP.

Export licence period

We will consider your application and determine the length of your licence, between 1 and 5 years.

We use the Tracking Animal Certification for Export (TRACE) system. It manages the application and approval processes for all livestock exported from Australia

Find out how to apply for a TRACE account.

You need an approved Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) before you can export feeder or slaughter livestock. ESCAS does not apply to breeder livestock.

Find out how to apply for, vary and maintain an approved ESCAS.

Once you complete these steps you can submit a consignment application through TRACE. This is known as a Notice of Intention to Export (NOI).

To continue to export livestock you need to meet certain requirements.

Find out how to maintain your:

• approved arrangement (AA)
• approved export program (AEP)
• export licence
• ESCAS.

Fees and charges apply for exporting livestock.

We apply fees and charges for consignments, licences and registrations.

We also apply an annual charge to export livestock under an AA. The amounts depend on whether you export by sea or air.

See more about our charging guidelines.