Animal health policies

Animal Health Committee’s key animal health policies. These are developed by AHC Member and Observer organisations and endorsed by AHC.

Disease surveillance and diagnostics

Sending biological samples overseas

• Policy for the transfer of biological specimens to overseas laboratories - 2010

Salmonella Enteritidis monitoring

• National Salmonella Enteritidis monitoring and accreditation program - 2016

National Animal Health Diagnostics Business Plan

• National Animal Heath Diagnostics Business Plan 2021-2026 (PDF 1.1 MB)
• National Animal Health Diagnostics Business Plan 2021-2026 (DOCX 1.04 MB)

Aquatic animal reportable diseases criteria

• Listing criteria for national list of reportable diseases of aquatic animals (PDF 255 KB) - 2020
• Listing criteria for national list of reportable diseases of aquatic animals (DOCX 55 KB) - 2020

How to report incidents of national interest

• Reporting incidents of potential national interest (PDF 219 KB) - 2018
• Reporting incidents of potential national interest (DOCX 56 KB) - 2018

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Hendra virus testing

• Hendra virus testing of individual bats - 2016

Trade and market access

Live aquatic animals

• National Policy Guidelines for the Translocation of Live Aquatic Animals - 2018

Abalone health accreditation

• Recommendations for Enterprise Level Abalone Health Accreditation Program (PDF 462 KB) - 2014
• Recommendations for Enterprise Level Abalone Health Accreditation Program (DOCX 142 KB) - 2014

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Bait and berley guidelines

• National policy guidelines (translocation of bait and berley) - 2015

Disease control and management

Domestic poultry and wild birds

• National Newcastle disease management plan (Animal Health Australia 2020)

Prohibited pig feed

• Prohibited Pig Feed Compliance and Awareness Project (Animal Health Australia 2020)

Ruminant feed ban

• Australian ruminant feed ban national uniform guidelines 2023-24 (Animal Health Australia 2023)

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE)

• Protocol for the management of designated zoo animals imported from countries at risk for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSES) (PDF 863 KB) (Animal Health Australia 2016)

Ehrlichia canis in dogs

• National approach to Ehrlichia canis (E. canis) management (PDF 238 KB) - 2021
• National approach to Ehrilichia canis (E. canis) management (Word 55 KB) - 2021

Ehrlichia canis definition

• National case definition for infection with Ehrlichia canis (Ehrlichiosis in canines (PDF 269 KB) - 2021
• National case definition for infection with Ehrlichia canis (Ehrlichiosis) in canines (Word 56 KB) - 2021

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Emergency animal disease preparedness and response

• Avian influenza vaccination policy for rare, protected and valuable avian species (PDF 303 KB) - 2025
• Avian influenza vaccination policy for rare, protected and valuable avian species (DOCX 81 KB) - 2025
• National policy and arrangements for the engagement of private veterinary practitioners in an EAD response - 2023
• AUSVETPLAN manuals (Animal Health Australia)

For more information contact the AHC Secretariat at ahc@aff.gov.au.