Apply, vary and maintain your ESCAS

Your application email must set out the supply chain details of the proposed export, including:

1. the species of livestock
2. each port or landing place where the livestock will be unloaded
3. transport, handling and slaughter of the livestock
4. feedlots
5. identification, tracking, accounting and reconciliation of the livestock
6. access to premises where livestock will be held
7. related operations and facilities.

You must include documents that show auditing of the supply chain, including:

• independent auditing and reporting in relation to points (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (g) above
• an Initial Independent Audit Report (IIAR) for all facilities in the proposed supply chain.

You must include documents that demonstrate control and traceability arrangements. These may include:

• a control and traceability declaration
• agreements confirming animal welfare and control and traceability requirements can be met. These must be between the exporter and importer/s or facility operators
• a management strategy or similar that outlines how requirements for animal welfare, control and traceability will be met.

You must include details of any upcoming consignments the proposed ESCAS will apply to in your application. This will allow us to effectively prioritise assessments.

You must submit your application:

• no later than 10 business days before the first export, or
• 10 business day before starting any required pre-export isolation or quarantine.

Submit your application to LAE.ESCAS@aff.gov.au.

A time-based fee applies for the assessment of ESCAS applications.

We may request additional information to support approval of your application.

We will notify you in writing if we approve your application. An application for an ESCAS does not guarantee it will be approved.

We will give you a Supply Chain Number (SCN) if we approve your ESCAS application.

Approval with conditions

We may approve your application subject to conditions. We will let you know the conditions when we approve your ESCAS.

Conditions may relate to:

• the operation of the ESCAS
• the number of consignments to which the ESCAS may apply
• publication of information
• other matters the decision maker considers appropriate.

Include the following in your variation application:

• supply chain number (SCN)
• details of the intended variation
• Initial independent audit report (IIAR) for new facilities
• Initial independent audit report (IIAR) for changed infrastructure or processes at existing facilities
• documents that demonstrate control and traceability arrangements.

You can include details of upcoming consignments your variation will apply to. However, this is not required to complete the application.

Add facilities

• To add facilities, you must provide an:
• IIAR for each new facility
• amended control and traceability declaration form.

Submit your variation application to LAE.ESCAS@aff.gov.au.

We apply a time-based fee to assess variations.

We may require independent audits of facilities 1, 2 or 4 times a year. We determine the number by the risk rating of the facility.

IPARs will identify non-compliance during the audit or in the preceding reporting period.

See more about IPARs.

You must submit an updated Accounting and Traceability Declaration every year.

By submitting this, you attest that you can account for all livestock exported on your approved ESCAS.

You can also submit End of Processing reports, as they account for all livestock from each export consignment. These can be used to demonstrate accounting and traceability of your ESCAS.

We may approve ESCAS applications subject to conditions. We may require further audits or reports. We will outline the conditions when we approve your ESCAS.