Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Drought, disaster and rural support
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Levies and charges on agricultural products
    • Mouse infestation advice
    • Plant health
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Report a concern
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2025-26

    Budget 2025-26

    The 2025–26 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 25 March 2025.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Export
  4. Controlled export goods
  5. Exporting live animals
  6. Live Animal Export Advisory Notices
  7. 2023-06

Sidebar first - Export

  • Live animals
    • Livestock
      • Livestock exporters
        • Become a livestock exporter
        • Exporting a livestock consignment
        • Export licence
        • Approved Arrangements
        • Approved export program
        • Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS)
          • Apply, vary and maintain your ESCAS
        • Independent observers
        • Exemptions
        • TRACE
      • Accredited veterinarians (AAVs)
        • Current AAVs
        • Become an AAV
      • Registered establishments
      • Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock
      • Forms for exporting livestock
      • Phase out of live sheep exports by sea
        • Transition assistance
        • Support services
        • Co-design process
        • Transition Advocate
        • Decision and how it was made
        • News and updates
      • Reforming live animal exports
      • Regulating live animal exports
        • Independent observer reports
        • Published regulatory decisions
      • Compliance investigations
        • Notifiable mortality incident reports
        • ESCAS investigations
    • Horses
      • Forms
    • Companion animals and other live animals
      • Forms
      • Information for veterinarians
        • Veterinarians preparing companion animals for export
    • Reproductive material
    • Animal welfare in livestock exports
      • Livestock export welfare reviews
        • Northern Hemisphere summer review
        • Heat and cold stress in Bos taurus cattle
      • Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock updates
    • Statistics
      • Livestock exports by air
      • All Livestock Exports
      • All non-livestock exports
      • Reports to Parliament
      • All reproductive material exports
    • Export Advisory Notices
    • Contact us

2023-06: Exports of sheep and goats to Malaysia leading into Korban 2023

17 March 2023

Species: Sheep and goats

Countries: Malaysia

  • Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council (ALEC)
  • Departmental officers
  • LiveCorp
  • Livestock exporters
  • Meat & Livestock Australia

Purpose

To advise exporters of the requirements for the export of sheep and goats to Malaysia in the lead up to Korban 2023.

Key points

  • There is an increased demand for livestock during the Korban festival (predicted to commence on 29 June 2023) and this may lead to an increased risk of non-compliance with ESCAS requirements.
  • ALEC has advised the department that its members have agreed not to export sheep or goats to Malaysia in the six weeks prior to Korban 2023.
  • The department will require any exporters planning to export feeder/slaughter sheep or goats to Malaysia between 18 May and 30 June 2023 to submit a Korban management plan.
  • Consignments of breeder sheep and goats planned for export to Malaysia between 18 May and 30 June 2023 will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Instructions

  1. Exporters are responsible for ensuring compliance with all ESCAS control, traceability and animal welfare requirements.
  2. Where necessary, exporters may put in place additional risk management measures to ensure relevant regulatory requirements continue to be met during periods of high demand, such as Korban.
  3. If an exporter intends to export sheep and goats to Malaysia between 18 May and 30 June 2023, it will be required to submit a Korban management plan that includes:
  1. An outline of the management of the supply chain, including a list of positions and corresponding roles and responsibilities. This is to include any additional or temporary positions for in-market staff.
  2. Identification of possible locations of loss of control and traceability of sheep and goats in the supply chain and management strategies to mitigate these risks.
  3. Additional actions to be implemented during Korban to ensure compliance with ESCAS standards, and contingency arrangements in the event that non-compliance becomes apparent in the lead up to or during Korban:
    1. specific arrangements for any facilities added to the supply chain since Korban 2022.
    2. specific consideration of measures in place during the period of peak demand during Korban, particularly as it relates to slaughter procedures, staff fatigue and crowd control.
  4. The process used by the exporter to verify compliance with the plan, for example the type of reports and documentation received, their content and how they are verified for accuracy; and the on-site verification activities to assess the accuracy of the reports and documentation.
  5. Specific information or situations that would initiate further action and/or investigation by the exporter. This may include third-party or industry reports of non-compliance with ESCAS standards, such as Australian animals for sale in markets outside of approved supply chains, or other significant incidents, for example high feedlot mortality rates.
  6. Supplementary technology or systems that could be utilised by the exporter to improve control and traceability (e.g., targeted use of individual NLIS tags for sheep supplied to trader pens, CCTV cameras).
  7. Market engagement and training activities delivered by technical experts (employed or contracted by the exporter) to support ongoing ESCAS compliance. This should include details of activities planned and a register of associated dates, locations and outcomes.
  1. It is a condition of ESCAS approvals that an exporter must notify the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in writing as soon as possible and not more than five working days after becoming aware of, or receiving information that suggests, non-compliance in their supply chain.

In accordance with subsections 6-40 and 6-42 of the Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021, the department may vary or revoke approval of an ESCAS if the department is not satisfied that the livestock will be dealt with in accordance with the approved ESCAS.

The department will consider each notice of intention to export feeder and/or slaughter sheep and goats on a case-by-case basis.

Consignments of breeder livestock will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Exporters should be mindful that their Malaysian supply chain partners must conform to Malaysia’s regulations and requirements. In particular, Malaysian abattoirs must be licensed under Malaysian legislation.

Background

Following Korban in 2016 and 2017, reports were received by the department demonstrating poor animal welfare outcomes and/or loss of control and traceability of Australian sheep exported to Malaysia. In response, ALEC has consistently advised the department that its members had agreed not to export sheep or goats to Malaysia in the six weeks prior to Korban annually since 2018 due to concerns around compliance with ESCAS requirements.

ALEC (and its members) has reaffirmed its agreed position of suspending supply of sheep and goats to Malaysia in the 6 weeks prior to the 2023 Korban festival.

Patrick Cass
Director
Live Animal Export Branch
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Justine Jorgensen
Contact Officer
Phone: 02 6272 2491
Email: livestockexp@aff.gov.au

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip
Page last updated: 26 April 2023

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram