Notice to Industry 6: Horse equipment arriving with horses from the northern hemisphere

To inform horse importers of the requirements and their obligations when horse equipment arrives into Australia with horse consignments from the northern hemisphere.

All imported cargo must be lodged to the Department of Home Affairs Integrated Cargo System (ICS). The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry uses the ICS to identify and assess goods that may have biosecurity concerns. 

All horse equipment is subject to biosecurity import conditions as per BICON. 

Horse equipment arriving with horses has previously been moved with the horses to the Mickleham Quarantine Facility (MQF) for biosecurity inspection and clearance. This equipment was not being declared in ICS, referred to and assessed by DAFF via the appropriate channels, or booked for inspection via the Biosecurity Portal.

MQF manages the post-arrival quarantine (PAQ) of imported horses. The inspection of excess horse equipment is not a core activity conducted at the facility and is no longer facilitated at MQF. 

Horse equipment imported into Australia with northern hemisphere horses is now managed under 2 scenarios: 

1. Horse equipment that is essential for use during quarantine 

• Includes only equipment that has been deemed necessary for horse handling and care during PAQ. After arrival in Australia, this equipment is permitted to travel to PAQ with the horses.
  • Refer to the Mickleham Quarantine Facility equipment allowance section to see the essential equipment allowance for horses completing PAQ at MQF. 
  • There is no defined essential equipment list for racehorses completing PAQ at a 7.12 Approved Arrangement (AA) site. Horse equipment arriving with racehorses completing PAQ at a 7.12 AA site is inspected at the 7.12 AA site.

2. Excess horse equipment

• Includes all equipment imported with northern hemisphere horses that is not required for use during PAQ. After arrival in Australia, this equipment is directed to an appropriate AA site for inspection.

MQF will accept the following equipment, per horse, for use during quarantine –

• 1 halter
• 1 bridle with bit 
• 1 lead rope
• 1 heavy rug
• 1 light sheet
• 1 set of leg bandages/leg boots and bell boots
• 1 Equilume mask
• Essential medications and supplements for use during PAQ. 

The above equipment will be inspected by quarantine facility staff at no additional cost and released with the horses if it meets the import conditions. Any required treatment will be charged as per normal charges for time by the department and/or a third party.

Importers may request additional essential equipment to be inspected at the MQF with the horses on a case-by-case basis prior to arrival by emailing micklehamhorses@aff.gov.au. This equipment may be required during PAQ or in the period immediately following release of the horses from MQF. 

If approved, additional equipment will be inspected at MQF and additional inspection fees will be charged to the importer. This equipment must be cleaned and treated as per the BICON case prior to arrival.

Excess equipment that arrives at MQF without pre-approval may be directed for movement and inspection at a more appropriate AA site.

Excess horse equipment must be reported on a separate air waybill to the horses. 

Prior to arrival, excess equipment must be separated from the essential equipment travelling with the horses to PAQ. Failure to separate excess equipment may result in clearance delays. 

Excess horse equipment imported with northern hemisphere horse consignments must be stored and inspected at an appropriate AA site (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 7.12). Some AA sites may be approved to unpack, remove biosecurity risk material, and treat contaminated equipment onsite prior to inspection by a biosecurity officer from the cargo inspections team.

A request for cargo import inspections can be made using the Biosecurity Portal. Manual Request for Inspection forms can be completed for arrangements that are currently not supported by the Biosecurity Portal. 

Inspections of equipment may take place after the standard 14-day quarantine for horses.

Excess horse equipment inspected at the AA site may be consigned to either the owner or the horse importer. Inspections and treatments will be invoiced accordingly.

Some treatments for horse equipment contaminated with plant or animal material, soil or insects, or arriving without a treatment certificate, may damage the goods. In order to avoid damage to horse equipment due to onshore treatment, it is recommended that excess used horse equipment is thoroughly cleaned (with all soil and plant or animal material removed) before offshore treatment.