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. Livestock
  7. Livestock exporters
  8. Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS)
  9. Apply, vary and maintain your ESCAS

Sidebar first - Export

  • Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS)
    • Apply, vary and maintain your ESCAS

Apply, vary and maintain your ESCAS

Licensed exporters must have an approved Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) to export feeder or slaughter livestock.

Applying for an ESCAS

Follow these steps to apply for an approved ESCAS.

Your application email must set out the supply chain details of the proposed export, including:

  1. the species of livestock
  2. each port or landing place where the livestock will be unloaded
  3. transport, handling and slaughter of the livestock
  4. feedlots
  5. identification, tracking, accounting and reconciliation of the livestock
  6. access to premises where livestock will be held
  7. related operations and facilities.

You must include documents that show auditing of the supply chain, including:

  • independent auditing and reporting in relation to points (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (g) above
  • an Initial Independent Audit Report (IIAR) for all facilities in the proposed supply chain.

You must include documents that demonstrate control and traceability arrangements. These may include:

  • a control and traceability declaration
  • agreements confirming animal welfare and control and traceability requirements can be met. These must be between the exporter and importer/s or facility operators
  • a management strategy or similar that outlines how requirements for animal welfare, control and traceability will be met.

You must include details of any upcoming consignments the proposed ESCAS will apply to in your application. This will allow us to effectively prioritise assessments.

Download forms

ESCAS Control and Traceability Declaration (PDF 388KB)
ESCAS Control and Traceability Declaration (DOC 39KB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

You must submit your application:

  • no later than 10 business days before the first export, or
  • 10 business day before starting any required pre-export isolation or quarantine.

Submit your application to LAE.ESCAS@aff.gov.au.

A time-based fee applies for the assessment of ESCAS applications.

We may request additional information to support approval of your application.

We will notify you in writing if we approve your application. An application for an ESCAS does not guarantee it will be approved.

We will give you a Supply Chain Number (SCN) if we approve your ESCAS application.

Approval with conditions

We may approve your application subject to conditions. We will let you know the conditions when we approve your ESCAS.

Conditions may relate to:

  • the operation of the ESCAS
  • the number of consignments to which the ESCAS may apply
  • publication of information
  • other matters the decision maker considers appropriate.

How to vary your ESCAS

You can apply to vary an approved ESCAS to:

  • add or remove importers or facilities
  • reflect changes in infrastructure or processes at approved facilities
  • vary or remove conditions of an approved ESCAS.

Follow these steps to vary your ESCAS.

Include the following in your variation application:

  • supply chain number (SCN)
  • details of the intended variation
  • Initial independent audit report (IIAR) for new facilities
  • Initial independent audit report (IIAR) for changed infrastructure or processes at existing facilities
  • documents that demonstrate control and traceability arrangements.

You can include details of upcoming consignments your variation will apply to. However, this is not required to complete the application.

Add facilities

  • To add facilities, you must provide an:
  • IIAR for each new facility
  • amended control and traceability declaration form.

Submit your variation application to LAE.ESCAS@aff.gov.au.

We apply a time-based fee to assess variations.

How to maintain your ESCAS

You will need to meet certain requirements to maintain your ESCAS.

We may require independent audits of facilities 1, 2 or 4 times a year. We determine the number by the risk rating of the facility.

IPARs will identify non-compliance during the audit or in the preceding reporting period.

See more about IPARs.

You must submit an updated Accounting and Traceability Declaration every year.

By submitting this, you attest that you can account for all livestock exported on your approved ESCAS.

You can also submit End of Processing reports, as they account for all livestock from each export consignment. These can be used to demonstrate accounting and traceability of your ESCAS.

Downloads

ESCAS Accounting and Traceability Declaration (Cattle and Buffalo) (DOCX 14KB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

We may approve ESCAS applications subject to conditions. We may require further audits or reports. We will outline the conditions when we approve your ESCAS.

Stay informed

Our Export Advisory Notices (EANs) and Market Access Notices (MANs) keep you updated of new information, advice, or instructions.

You can subscribe to receive these notices by email.

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: 21 March 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