Livestock export notice section 7.03

​Regulatory framework for livestock exports - 1 March 2012

On 21 October 2011, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry announced that the Australian Government would extend the exporter supply chain assurance system (ESCAS) framework developed for Indonesia to all markets for exported Australian feeder and slaughter livestock. This decision reflects the recommendations of reports of the Farmer Review and the Cattle, Sheep and Goat Industry Government Working Groups.

Under the framework, Australian exporters will need to ensure that:

• animals will be handled and processed at, or better than, the internationally accepted standards for animal welfare established by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
• they have control of the movement of animals within their supply chain
• they can trace or account for animals through the supply chain; and
• they conduct independent verification and performance audits of their supply chains against these new requirements.

Three orders give effect to the new regulatory framework for livestock exports:

• the Export Control (Animals) Order 2004, as amended by the Export Control (Animals) Amendment Order 2012 (No. 1) (the amending Order)
• the Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry (Conditions on Live-stock Export Licences) Order 2012; and
• the Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry (Export of Live-stock to the Republic of Indonesia Repeal) Order 2012.

In accordance with this new framework, an ESCAS will generally be required for the export of live-stock.

Implementation of the new framework will be phased, with 75% of trade covered by the new framework from 1 March 2012, 99% of trade covered from 1 September 2012, and all trade covered from 1 January 2013.

Transitional provisions are included in the amending Order. One of those transitional provisions is contained in section 7.03. Under that provision, an ESCAS will not be required for a particular export if certain conditions are met.

One of those conditions is that the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the Secretary) has made a declaration that the transitional provisions apply to exports of that kind. Attached to this notice is a declaration by the Secretary, specifying the relevant countries, live-stock and dates in relation to which section 7.03 applies.

Another of those conditions is that:

• for livestock exported by sea, the proposed export date indicated in the NOI is before the declaration date and permission to leave for loading is granted before the declaration date
• for livestock exported other than by sea, the proposed export date indicated in the NOI is before the declaration date and an export permit is granted before the declaration date.

For further information contact:

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Email: Livestock Expor​t Reform
Post: GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601

Notification of declaration issued pursuant to Section 7.03 (1) of the Export Control (Animals) order  2004

I, CONALL O’CONNELL, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, declare that section 7.03 of the Export Control (Animals) Order 2004, applies to a country listed in column 1 of Table 1 (a declared country), in relation to the live-stock specified in column 2 of the corresponding row of Table 1 (the declared live-stock for that country), until the date specified in the corresponding row of column 3 of Table 1 (the declaration date for export of declared live-stock to that declared country).

Dated this 28^th day of February 2012

[signed]

Conall O'Connell
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry