Categorisation of Issues Identified on Livestock Export Voyages

Purpose

This document is intended to provide insight into types or categories of issues or non-compliances commonly identified by Independent Observers (observers) whilst monitoring, reviewing and/or auditing exporter and accredited veterinarian (AAV) activities on livestock export voyages.

Background

Summary reports

The department publishes summaries of observer reports focusing on identified issues and/or non-compliance and breaks these down by standard categories. Where no issues were identified by the observer under a category, the summary report explains that exporter arrangements for that category were appropriate to manage livestock health and welfare.

Under the Export Control Act 2020 and Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021 exporters are required to have an export licence, an approved arrangement and an approved export program for any AAV they engage. In addition, the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL) requires exporters to have voyage instructions for all voyages, and management plans for high-risk consignments.

1. Approved Arrangements set out the operations which, when correctly applied by a livestock exporter, effectively manage the preparation and certification of livestock exported from Australia.
2. An Approved Export Program (AEP) is a program of activities to be undertaken by an AAV for the purpose of ensuring the health and welfare of eligible live animals during export activities.
3. Voyage instructions are compiled and issued by the exporter to the stockperson, accredited veterinarian (if applicable) and vessel Master. These voyage instructions detail exporter arrangements as to how the animals will be managed during the voyage to meet or exceed ASEL requirements.

Summary reports are an accurate summary of the reporting provided by the observer to assist with the effective regulation of livestock exports by sea. They provide the public with an accurate account of what has been observed, from the loading of each vessel through to discharge at the final destination port. Evidence has been provided, assessed, and verified for any issues and/or non-compliances that are reported in the summary report. To allow for procedural fairness, exporters have been presented with evidence and given a right of reply prior to publication.

The role of an observer

An observer has responsibility for undertaking activities listed in an approved export program at the direction of the Secretary of the department. As part of their duties, an observer may be directed to monitor, review and/or audit the activities of:

• exporters in relation to their arrangements and/or;
• AAV’s in undertaking their duties as part of an approved export program.

The above documents are provided to observers to review and determine if they are implemented, appropriate, and effective to ensure the health and welfare of livestock during export.

Categories of commonly identified issues

Exporter documentation

This section outlines any relevant observations relating to an exporter’s compliance with its documented management procedures.

For example:

1. The exporter did not prepare required documentation or did not provide it to their representatives.
2. The exporter did not enact or implement necessary management plans consistent with the type of livestock they were exporting e.g. heavy cattle management plans for cattle greater than 500kgs in weight.

Loading

This section outlines any relevant observations whilst livestock were being loaded onto the vessel:

For example:

1. Livestock were loaded which should have been rejected or were not fit to load.
2. Escaped or injured livestock at the port.
3. Poor or dangerous animal handling during loading.
4. Livestock were not loaded in accordance with the load plan.

Personnel

This section outlines any relevant observations relating to the crew and other personnel onboard as they relate to animal welfare, approved export programs or voyage instructions.

For example:

1. Poor or dangerous animal handling.
2. Crew were not responsive to instruction from exporter personnel.
3. Exporter personnel either were not aware of, or did not follow, the exporter’s instructions.
4. Insufficient crew to manage livestock.

Daily routine

This section outlines any relevant observations relating to the daily routine carried out by crew and personnel during the voyage.

For example:

1. Daily meetings were not held, were occasional or were skipped by required members.
2. Livestock inspections were performed infrequently or not at all.
3. Sick and injured livestock were not identified during routine inspections.

Feed and water

This section outlines any relevant observations relating to feed and water.

For example:

1. Feed/water troughs were not suitable or accessible.
2. Contaminated feed and/or water.
3. Inadequate feed/water available during the voyage.

Ventilation

This section outlines any relevant observations relating to the effectiveness and availability of vessel ventilation during the voyage.

For example:

1. Breakdown or disabling of ventilation systems.
2. Inadequate or ineffective ventilation.

Pen conditions

This section outlines any relevant observations relating to management of pen conditions.

For example:

1. The manure pads were not managed appropriately.
2. Pens were overstocked.
3. Pen infrastructure was inappropriate/broken and/or potentially dangerous.

Health and welfare

This section outlines any relevant observations relating to treatments, injuries or mortalities.

For example:

1. Treatments/medications administered during the voyage.
2. Livestock sickness/injuries/mortalities.
3. Post-mortem results and presumptive causes of mortalities.
4. Births or abortions.

Discharge

This section outlines any relevant observations whilst livestock were being discharged from the vessel.

For example:

1. Escaped or injured livestock at the port.
2. Poor or dangerous animal handling at discharge.
3. Livestock were discharged which were not fit for discharge.

*Note: The department may also list examples where an exporters arrangements were effective in responding to and resolving an issue.

Departmental Actions

The development and publication of summary reports is the final step in the department’s regulatory process and does not reflect the timing of corrective action/s taken in response to a detected issue or non-compliance.

Where required, the department takes appropriate regulatory action in response to issues or non-compliance at the point of its detection on-board the vessel, or as soon as practicable following the receipt and assessment of an observer’s report detailing the issue or non-compliance.

Summary reports may include information about departmental actions where these have been taken prior to publication.