Regulatory framework for livestock exports - March 2014
On 21 October 2011, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry announced that the Australian Government would extend the exporter supply chain assurance system (ESCAS) framework developed for Indonesia to all markets for exported Australian feeder and slaughter livestock. This decision reflects the recommendations of reports of the Farmer Review and the Cattle, Sheep and Goat Industry Government Working Groups.
Under the framework, Australian exporters will need to ensure that:
- animals will be handled and processed at, or better than, the internationally accepted standards for animal welfare established by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
- they have control of the movement of animals within their supply chain
- they can trace or account for animals through the supply chain, and
- they conduct independent verification and performance audits of their supply chains against these new requirements.
Three orders give effect to the new regulatory framework for livestock exports:
- the Export Control (Animals) Order 2004, as amended by the Export Control (Animals) Amendment Order 2012 (No. 1)
- the Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry (Conditions on Live-stock Export Licences) Order 2012, and
- the Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry (Export of Live-stock to the Republic of Indonesia Repeal) Order 2012.
In accordance with this new framework, an ESCAS will generally be required for the export of live-stock.
Implementation of the new framework will be phased, with 75 per cent of trade covered by the new framework from 1 March 2012, 99 per cent of trade covered from 1 September 2012, and all trade covered from 1 January 2013.
Transitional provisions are included in the amending Order. One of those transitional provisions is contained in section 7.04. The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the Secretary) may declare that section 7.04 applies to a country or class of countries in relation to specified live-stock. An ESCAS is not required for the export of declared live-stock to a declared country.
Attached to this notice is a declaration by the Secretary, signed on the 28 February 2012, specifying that Egypt was exempt from ESCAS. A further declaration by the Secretary, signed on 14 March 2014, revokes the declaration that exempts Egypt from ESCAS.
For further information contact:
Department of Agriculture
Email: Livestock Export Reform
Post: GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601
Livestock Export Notices
Notification of declaration issued pursuant to Section 7.04 (1) of the Export Control (Animals) Order 2004
I, CONALL O’CONNELL, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, declare that section 7.04 of the Export Control (Animals) Order 2004 applies to a country listed in column 1 of Table 1 (a declared country), in relation to live-stock specified in column 2 of the corresponding row of Table 1 (the declared live-stock for that country).
| Column 1 Declared Country |
Column 2 Declared Live-stock |
|---|---|
| Egypt | Cattle |
Dated this 28th day of February 2012
[signed]
Conall O'Connell
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Notification of Revocation of Declaration Issued Pursuant to Section 7.04 (1) of the Export Control (Animals)
I, Paul Grimes, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, revoke the 28 February 2012 declaration issued pursuant to section 7.04 of the Export Control (Animals) Order 2004, declaring Egypt a declared country and cattle a declared live-stock.
Dated this 14th day of March 2014
[signed]
Paul Grimes
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture