As the regulator, we are committed to continuous improvement of the live animal export regulatory framework through reform activities which seek to:
- increase the efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness of our regulatory administration
- increase the transparency of our regulatory activities
- provide increased assurance on the effectiveness of our regulatory framework.
These reform activities also consider many key recommendations from previous reviews.
Key reforms
We have one key project underway to reform live animal exports.
The Live Animal Exports Regulatory Improvement Project
As part of the 2025-26 Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO), the Australian government committed funding under the ‘Securing the Future of Agricultural Trade’ measure to develop a new cost recovery arrangement for live animal export regulatory services by 2028. To approach this, we have created the Live Animal Exports Regulatory Improvement Project.
The project aims to provide analytical insight into the current operating model for live animal exports, redesign the framework to support better alignment of regulatory outcomes and mapped risks, decrease regulatory burden, and implement a modern digital solution that reduces duplication and supports existing strong compliance and animal welfare outcomes. The project is split across 3 streams of work:
Regulatory stream
Revise the policy and legislative framework applicable to live animal exports to:
- align regulatory requirements to known risks, including animal welfare risks and compliance risks
- streamline regulation to achieve the same or an improved level of exporter compliance with reduced regulatory complexity
- provide opportunities to use of risk-based proportionate regulatory tools
This must also continue to achieve strong animal welfare outcomes and strong compliance.
Export cost stream
Develop a new cost model that will sustainably support the revised regulatory requirements of live animal exports and implement a new Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS) by 1 July 2028.
Digital stream
Establish a clear digital vision and roadmap to support live animal export regulatory reform; implement a modern digital solution that reduces duplication and supports strong compliance and animal welfare outcomes for both livestock and non-livestock exports.
For further information, please contact LAEregimprovement@aff.gov.au.
Animal welfare in livestock exports
We monitor welfare outcomes and conduct regular reviews related to the welfare of livestock for export to inform policy and standards development. Reviews of livestock exports outcomes also guide our reform activities. They help us create better export conditions, standards and regulations. This leads to improved health and welfare of exported livestock.
The Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL) are regularly updated to ensure the standards reflect industry and regulatory developments, and the best available science and evidence.
The Inspector-General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports also conducts regular reviews.
Historical reviews and reforms
| Details | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
The Digital Services to Take Farmers to Markets (TFTM) program was designed to replace ageing technology and improve the way exporters interact with government services. Achievements for exporters, industry and the department included the Export Service Portal and Account, Digital Identity, new licensing services, audit improvements and the Modern Quota System. These changes provide exporters with more clear and efficient ways to access government export services. | August 2026 | Reform |
| We implemented the revised Independent Observer Deployment Policy following the Inspector-General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports' review of the Independent Observer Program. The revised policy introduced a framework for routine and targeted independent observer deployments. | May 2026 | Reform |
| Details | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
The Strengthening the Accredited Veterinarian (AAV) Program follows on from recommendations of the Moss Review and internal feedback. By strengthening the AAV program, we can be assured that AAVs and exporters are meeting animal health and welfare standards and importing country requirements. What the project achieved:
Recommenced our post-voyage debriefs with AAVs | December 2024 | Reform |
| Details | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
Based on recommendations from the Review of live sheep exports by sea to, or through, the Middle East during the Northern Hemisphere summer, on 1 April 2023 amendments to the Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021 commenced. This implemented recommendations to support better welfare outcomes for sheep travelling to, or through, the Middle East during the non-prohibited Northern Hemisphere summer periods. | April 2023 | Reform |
| Details | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
The final report of the Heat and cold stress in Bos taurus cattle from southern Australia during long-haul export by sea review was published. | December 2022 | Review |
The final report of the Review of live sheep exports by sea to, or through, the Middle East during the Northern Hemisphere summer was published.
| September 2022 | Review |
The Streamlining approved arrangements administration project achieved the following:
We also modernised the Tracking Animal Certification for Export (TRACE) system.
| 2022 | Reform |
The Data and analytics project focused on building modern and reliable data reporting and analytics capability. The key deliverables for this project included:
| 2022 | Reform |
| Details | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
ASEL 3.2 commenced. It included updates to clarify requirements and reduce ambiguity. | November 2021 | Reform |
| ASEL 3.1 commenced. It incorporated changes in line with new export legislation. | March 2021 | Reform |
New and updated legislation implemented that is easy to understand. New laws support our livestock industries to innovate and be more efficient. | 28 March 2021 | Reform |
| Details | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| We started collecting ASEL reports using LIVEXCollect. LIVEXCollect, built by LiveCorp, standardised data entry and reporting. This improved data aggregation and analysis, which helps us do our job as a regulator more efficiently and gives LiveCorp access to data for research and development activities. | November 2020 | Reform |
| ASEL 3.0 commenced. It implemented recommendations from the 2018/19 Technical Advisory Committee review of the ASEL. | 1 November 2020 | Reform |
Prohibition periods were introduced for the export of live sheep to the Middle East on 1 May 2020 and are enforced under the Export Control Rules. This followed a comprehensive review of heat stress risks associated with the live sheep export trade in the Northern Hemisphere summer, considering:
| 1 May 2020 | Reform |
In consultation with AMSA, we prepared the Post Implementation Review on the:
Read the Post Implementation Review. | 15 September 2020 | Review |
| Details | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
Technical Advisory Committee review of ASEL air standards completed. | October 2019 | Review |
Following assessment of the relevant science and evidence, we prohibited the export of live sheep to the Middle East between 1 June 2019 and 31 August 2019. This was introduced under the: | April 2019 | Reform |
Technical Advisory Committee review of ASEL sea standards completed. | March 2019 | Review |
| Details | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
The Review of the Regulatory Capability and Culture of the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources in the Regulation of Live Animal Exports (Moss Review) was completed. | September 2018 | Review |
| Amendments to the Export Control (Animals) Order 2004 were made. All livestock exporters must have an approved export program (AEP). This contains instructions for AAVs. | July 2018 | Reform |
In response to McCarthy Review recommendations, we set new standards for livestock vessels to the Middle East between May and October. This included:
| June/July 2018 | Reform |
The McCarthy Review, initiated in response to the Awassi Express incident, was completed. It reviewed conditions of the export of sheep to the Middle East during the Northern Hemisphere summer.
Some review recommendations were implemented immediately, while others were subject to further research and consultation with industry and animal welfare experts. | May 2018 | Review |
| We began the Independent Observer (IO) program. It appoints independent observers to accompany consignments of livestock on a voyage. | April 2018 | Reform |
| Details | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| All exporters must have an approved arrangement to export livestock, unless they hold a small and infrequent exporter exemption. | January 2017 | Reform |
| The transition to the new approved arrangements regulatory model began. From April 2016, exporters could apply for an approved arrangement. This was a significant reform, moving away from individual consignment approvals. | April 2016 | Reform |
The Livestock ESCAS report is released. The report looks at how effective ESCAS was for animal welfare outcomes and trade. It includes data and examples of how ESCAS has been useful for different markets. | January 2015 | Review |
| ESCAS implemented in Egypt. This was the last of current export markets to be covered under ESCAS. | March 2014 | Reform |
Review of the ASEL and Livestock Export Standards Advisory Group (LESAG) was completed.
| May 2013 | Review |
We coordinated a review on behalf of the Industry Government Implementation Group (IGIG). This was in response to recommendation 14 of the Farmer Review. | April 2013 | Review |
The Fremantle Review was completed. It reviewed export inspection processes at the Port of Fremantle. | December 2012 | Review |
| ESCAS implemented across all other active livestock markets except for Egypt. | December 2012 | Reform |
| ESCAS expanded to Israel, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Oman, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and United Arab Emirates. | September 2012 | Reform |
| ESCAS expanded to Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Turkey. | March 2012 | Reform |
The Farmer Review was completed. This was an independent review of Australia’s livestock export trade. | August 2011 | Review |
Following the suspension of trade to Indonesia, we worked with industry to develop a new regulatory model known as ESCAS.
In August 2011, the first consignment was exported to Indonesia under ESCAS. | August 2011 | Reform |
| We released the report on the financial impact of cattle export restrictions to Indonesia. Financial impact of cattle export restrictions to Indonesia | July 2011 | Review |
| ASEL 2.3 implemented | April 2011 | Update |
| ASEL version 2.2 implemented | December 2008 | Update |
| ASEL version 2.1 implemented | December 2006 | Update |
| ASEL version 2 implemented | September 2006 | Reform |
| The first version of the ASEL was implemented | July 2005 | Reform |
The Keniry livestock export review finalised. This review was triggered by sheep mortalities on the MV Cormo Express. Saudi Arabia had refused to allow the vessel to unload sheep in August 2003. The review recommended a national welfare standard for livestock exports. | December 2003 | Review |
New legislation was introduced:
All existing export licences were withdrawn. Exporters must apply for a meat or livestock export licence to meet new criteria. | 1982 | Reform |
| The Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958 were introduced. Exporters of live animals must apply for a permit. | 1958 | Reform |
| The Quarantine (Animals) Regulations 1935 were introduced. A government-approved veterinary surgeon must examine all animals within 48 hours of shipment. Livestock must be healthy and meet quarantine requirements of the importing country. The vet issues a Certificate of Health and a Permit to Embark to animals that met conditions. Animals that did not meet conditions could not be exported. | 1935 | Reform |
| The Navigation (Deck Cargo and Livestock) Regulations 1926 The first regulations were introduced for livestock export. They included space, food, and ventilation requirements. | 1926 | Reform |
| The first trade in livestock from Australia started. Gradually, over time, trade expanded to include more species and markets. | 1830s | Event |