Guides for exporting livestock

How to register an establishment to prepare and hold livestock for export by sea

To prepare and hold livestock for export by sea, you must have specific approvals in place.

See the key steps, glossary and links to relevant information. These will help you understand the requirements for registering an establishment for the export of prescribed livestock by sea.

Once you have the necessary approvals, find out how to export livestock.

Fees and charges

Fees will apply for some of these steps. The costs will vary depending on the method of export. More information on our fees is available in the Charging Guidelines.

Apply for establishment registration

Your establishment must be registered with us if it is intended to be used for the preparation of prescribed livestock for export. You as the occupier may apply for registration by submitting a Livestock Registered Establishments – new application, renewal and variations form.

• Establishment registered

Registered establishment listing

For some markets, there is a requirement to be listed with importing countries. For specific country requirements, visit Micor.

• Included overseas listing

Maintain establishment registration

Under Australia’s export legislation, if there are any changes to your establishment, you as the occupier must apply to vary your establishment registration by submitting a Livestock Registered Establishments – new application, renewal and variations form.

Find out about Establishments registered by the department

Reporting

As the occupier you must comply with the Australian standards for the export of livestock (ASEL) for reporting.

Audit compliance

We will conduct audits of your establishment at least once yearly. You as the occupier must demonstrate use of the procedures and processes required by your approved registered establishment operations manual.

If your registered establishment holds an overseas listing, it may be subject to additional audits.

• Your establishment can be used to prepare and hold livestock for export by sea

Once you have these required approvals in place, and for as long as you maintain those approvals, your establishment can be used to prepare and hold livestock in accordance with the importing country requirements and your approved operations manual, for export by sea.

Find out how to become an exporter of livestock.

How to become an exporter of livestock

To export livestock, you must have specific approvals in place before you submit a consignment application.

See the key steps, glossary and links to relevant information. These will help you understand the requirements for becoming an exporter of prebscribed livestock.

Once you have the necessary approvals, find out how to export livestock.

Fees and charges

Fees will apply for some of these steps. The costs will vary depending on the method of export. More information on our fees is available in the Charging Guidelines.

Determine importing country requirements

You should research the importing country requirements to ensure products and commodities can be accepted for import into specific overseas countries.

We maintain the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) as a resource to assist in this research, however consultation with the importer or relevant authority is also encouraged to determine their specific requirements.

Austrade's Market Search Tool may also provide additional information on the market you wish to enter.

If the country or countries you intend to prepare product for have requirements in addition or different to the requirements of Australia’s export legislation (for example, stricter limits on heavy metals in food), you will need to document how you are going to meet these importing country requirements in your approved arrangement (AA).

Apply for an export licence, approved arrangement, and approved export program

To export livestock, you must have:

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

You may apply for these requirements by submitting an Application for export licence, approved arrangement and approved export program form.

Your proposed arrangement is subject to an audit by us before it is approved.

• Licence granted, arrangement and approved export program approved

Register with our department systems

Once you receive confirmation your export licence has been granted, you must register as a TRACE user to submit an export application, known as a Notice of Intention to Export (NOI).

• You are ready to start the consignment application process

Once you have these required approvals in place, and for as long as you maintain those approvals, you can source livestock for export, and submit a NOI.

Find out how to export livestock.

Maintain export licence

An export licence will be valid for one to five years, and will need to be renewed within the period required by legislation.

While licenced, you must notify the department if you:

• Cease to operate the export business that carries out export operations covered by the licence
• Are notified by a relevant importing country authority that they are no longer regarded as an approved supplier of prescribed livestock to that country
• Intend to export to additional or different markets.

Find out about Licence renewal or variation.

Apply for an approved arrangement or approved export program variation

If you need to vary your AA or approved export program (AEP), you must apply for an AA variation using the Application for export licence, approved arrangement and approved export program form.

Audit compliance

We will conduct audits of your approved arrangement. You must demonstrate use of the procedures and processes approved as part of your AA.

There are specific approvals that must be in place before livestock can be exported from Australia.

See the key steps, glossary, and links to relevant information. These will help you understand the requirements for exporting a consignment of prescribed livestock.

Find out how to become an exporter of livestock.

Fees and charges

Fees will apply for some of these steps. The costs will vary depending on the method of export. More information on our fees is available in the Charging Guidelines.

Determine importing country requirements

You should research the importing country requirements to ensure products and commodities can be accepted for import into specific overseas countries.

We maintain the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) as a resource to assist in this research, however consultation with the importer or relevant authority is also encouraged to determine their specific requirements.

Austrade's Market Search Tool may also provide additional information on the market you wish to enter.

Submit your notice of intention

Once the required approvals are in place, you must notify us of your intention to export by submitting a Notice of Intention (NOI) in accordance with your approved arrangement (AA) through TRACE.

For exports by sea, the department may require an independent observer (IO) and/or shipboard accredited veterinarian (AAV) to accompany the voyage. If an IO or AAV is required, you will be notified at this stage. For some voyages, AAVs are required as a standard requirement – this is outlined in the Australian standards for the export of livestock (ASEL)

For exports by air, if the importing country requires your consignment to be isolated, the premises will need to be approved by us before the livestock starts the isolation period. Please let us know if this is required when you submit the NOI.

Prepare the livestock and required export documentation

Preparation of the livestock and pre-export documentation (including preparation and inspection by an AAV) must be carried out in accordance with your AA and approved export program (AEP).

Documents must be uploaded to TRACE prior to applying for an export permit and government certificate.

Apply for export permit and government certificate

You must have an export permit and government certificate to export a consignment of livestock. You may apply for these requirements by submitting the appropriate Application for Export Permit and Health Certificate form.

Inspection of documents and consignment

All documents and consignments must be inspected by a departmental veterinary officer before departure to ensure the documents and livestock meets:

• Australian standards for the export of livestock (ASEL) requirements
• Importing country requirements
• Legislative requirements.

• Export permit and government certificates issued

You receive the export permit and government certificate once we confirm you have fully complied with the ASEL, the importing country requirements and any other requirements under Australian law.

• Consignment shipped

The consignment is outbound from Australia.

Reporting

As the occupier you must comply with reporting requirements detailed in the ASEL, and any other additional reporting we may direct you to provide.

Mitigate and follow up issues

Where an incident occurs with a consignment that has left Australia, you are responsible for addressing the issue/s, reporting to us, and putting in place corrective actions where required.

A group of livestock that are under export preparation by one exporter and are destined for export, or have been exported, from a single seaport or airport.

Term	Definition
Accredited veterinarian (AAV)	A veterinarian who is accredited under the Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021 to carry out export operations in approved export programs.
Approved arrangement	An agreement between the department and a livestock exporter. Approved arrangements set out the operations which, when correctly applied by a livestock exporter, will effectively manage the preparation and certification of livestock exported from Australia.
Approved export program (AEP)	A program of activities to be undertaken by an AAV, or an authorised officer, for the purpose of ensuring the health and welfare of eligible livestock, in the course of export activities.
Australian standards for the export of livestock (ASEL)	The document that sets the minimum animal health and welfare requirements the livestock export industry must meet throughout the supply chain, from sourcing to completion of disembarkation.
Consignment
Export permit	A document issued by the department in accordance with Part 2 of Chapter 7 of the Act, with additional information prescribed in the Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021, enabling the consignment of livestock to depart Australia.
Exporter	The entity who is listed on the export permit and is responsible for exporting the consignment. Additionally, the entity needs to be licensed by the department to operate as a livestock exporter.
Government certificate	A government document declaring that the goods meet the importing country requirements and can be imported.
Importer	An individual or organisation who brings a good into a country from a foreign country for trade.
Importing country	A country that accepts exported goods from a foreign country for trade.
Importing requirements	The requirements an importing country has that need to be met for exported goods to be accepted.
Livestock	Cattle, sheep, goats, deer, buffalo or camelids (including camels, alpacas, llamas), and includes the young of any of those animals.
Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor)	The website maintained by the department that lists the known requirements imposed by an importing country for each type of good.
Notice of intention (NOI)	An application from an exporter to the department relating to exporting a consignment.
Occupier	The person whose name the establishment is registered in.
Operations manual	A manual relating to a registered establishment, which is approved by the department, and outlines the management system and export operations to be carried out at the establishment.
Overseas listing	A list maintained by the importing country of approved exporting entities.
Pre-export AAVs	Pre-export or land based AAVs prepare the livestock for export by undertaking testing, treatments and examinations prior to export as determined by the AEP.
Prescribed good	Goods that are regulated by the Export Control Act 2020 and the Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021.
Registered establishment	An establishment that has been registered with the department to be able to hold and prepare livestock for export by sea.
Rules	Sets out the list of legislative requirements that must be met by an exporter before prescribed goods can be exported. A separate Export Control Rule exists for each type of prescribed good.
Shipboard AAVs	Shipboard AAVs accompany livestock on an export voyage by sea and carry out activities as determined by ASEL and the AEP.
The department	The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry