The Australian Parliament has passed laws to end live sheep exports by sea from 1 May 2028. The department will continue to regulate the export of live sheep by sea during the transition to ensure compliance with all requirements, including animal welfare.
Assistance for the sheep supply chain to transition
Open-competitive grant opportunities
- Supply Chain Capacity Program for producers and processors is now open until 22 October 2025 on SmartyGrants.
- Enhancing Market Demand Grants Program to enhance demand for Australian sheep products and support diversification opportunities for agri-food exports to the Middle East and North Africa region, is now open until 4 November 2025 on GrantConnect.
- Preview Grant Opportunity Guidelines for the Farm Business Transition Program on GrantConnect (open 7 October 2025).
- Preview Grant Opportunity Guidelines for the Livestock Transport Industry Transition Program on GrantConnect (open 7 October 2025).
There’s a $139.7 million transition assistance package.
The transition assistance provides individuals, communities and businesses with the opportunity to be prepared for when trade ends in 2028.
Prepare for the transition
Contact us
To contact us please email livesheep.phaseout@aff.gov.au
Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra