Notice to Industry 8: Horse Importer responsibilities - New Zealand and New Caledonia

The purpose of this document is to inform horse importers from New Zealand and New Caledonia, their staff and contractors of their responsibilities and obligations to comply with specific requirements.

This document is provided for information only. To the extent that this document is inconsistent with any import permit, direction or authorisation, the terms and conditions of the import permit, direction or authorisation take precedence and will apply. Failure to comply with a condition of an import permit, direction, industry notice or authorisation may constitute an offence. 

The department is responsible for regulating the import of horses and has developed conditions that manage the associated biosecurity risks. New Zealand and New Caledonia are free from many of the equine diseases of biosecurity concern to Australia, including equine influenza (EI), so horses imported from these two countries do not need to complete post-arrival quarantine (PAQ) following their arrival into Australia

The importer must:

1. Hold a valid import permit for the horses.

• Permits for horses from New Zealand are valid for 12 months with multiple consignments of horses permitted.
• Permits for horses from New Caledonia are valid for 2 months and are for a single consignment. 

2. Hold a valid import permit for any veterinary therapeutic kits or be prepared to follow the requirements on Notice to Industry 7: Veterinary therapeutic kits.
3. Read, understand and meet all requirements specified in each import permit.
4. Ensure that owners are aware of the risks associated with importing horses into Australia. Suspected and/or confirmed exotic disease in an imported horse may result in it (along with all in-contact horses) not being released from biosecurity control pending further requirements.

The importer must:

1. Ensure that all pre-export conditions detailed on the import permit are met.
2. Ensure veterinary therapeutics and feed supplements (that are not part of the flying groom vet kit) are permitted (eg. only contain ingredients from the List of Approved Ingredients for Retail Packaged Veterinary Therapeutics and Cosmetics for Animals) or have the required import permit. Re-export or destruction of these products may result if they are not accompanied by the required documentation. Refer to BICON for veterinary therapeutic and feed supplement requirements.
3. Ensure that hay or straw bedding is not used during transport of horses by air.
4. Complete Form: Notice of intent to import horses (NOI) and email to the departmental regional office at least 3 business days before horse arrival.
   Note: The number of horses to be imported and details of any variations to the import permit conditions must be provided as part of the notification process.
5. Provide the AIMS entry numbers for the consignment to the regional horse coordinator by email.
6. Book the first-point-of-entry facilities and ensure all personnel are authorised to enter the corral for the consignment’s arrival.
7. Contact the regional horse coordinator by email if the consignment’s arrival time or schedule changes during business hours. Contact the regional horse coordinator by phone if an issue arises after hours.

8. Meet the following documentation requirements: 
   For horses from New Zealand

   • Provide the following information to the regional horse coordinator prior to horse arrival:
     • Draft health certificate or transit/transhipment certificate for all horses in the consignment, including dates and results of all required tests, and dates of all required treatments.
       Note: For transit/transhipment through Australia, the importer must ensure that onward certification has been provided by MPI.
     • Details of any additional treatments for horses in the consignment.
     • Any permit variations for horses in the consignment.
     • Copy of the Air Waybills

   For horses from New Caledonia

   • Provide the following information to the regional horse coordinator prior to the horses leaving the pre-export isolation premises:
     • Dates and results of all required tests and treatments.
     • Dates of all required vaccinations.
     • Details of any additional treatments for horses in the consignment.
     • Any permit variations for horses in the consignment.
     • A statement confirming that the official certification accompanying the horses in the consignment will match the import permit conditions and any permit variations.
       Note: Importers must not allow horses to leave the pre-export isolation premises for export until they have received confirmation from the department approving the horses to be loaded for export.
   • Provide the following information to the regional horse coordinator prior to the arrival of the horses:
     • Copies of the certified health certificates and any supporting documentation (e.g. laboratory reports).

The importer must:

1. Comply with all biosecurity officer directions.
2. Ensure all horses in the consignment are readily identifiable at the time of arrival e.g. mane or rump labels.
3. Present all original health certificates and supporting documentation to a biosecurity officer at the first-point-of-entry site. These must be verified prior to the unloading of horses from stalls and will be returned to the importer after verification.
4. Provide sufficient horse transport vehicles/facilities to hold all horses until the clearance process is completed.
5. Provide competent personnel with suitable personal protective equipment (e.g. steel-cap boots, helmets, safety kick vests) to assist in the unloading and clearance of horses. Unauthorised personnel will not be permitted in the area.
6. Present veterinary therapeutic kits and veterinary therapeutics/feed supplements that are not part of a veterinary therapeutic kit along with all associated documentation to a biosecurity officer for clearance or direction to re-export or destroy.
7. Ensure that equipment, horse stalls or any other equipment imported with the horses is cleaned, disinfected or treated according to the department’s directions. The importer is responsible for all costs associated with cleaning, disinfection and/or treatment of horse equipment and the appropriate disposal of plant material and feeds (hay, chaff, fodder, etc.) used during transport to Australia. Plant material used for bedding or animal feed cannot be imported into Australia without an import permit.
8. Pay all department charges associated with the import of horses including the charges associated with import permit applications, inspection, clearance and any contingency arrangements should they be required.