226-2021: Proposed enhanced class 1.2 approved arrangement conditions for handling live animals – Invitation for feedback

Note: These are the conditions that are proposed to be replaced by the conditions shown in Appendix 2. These do not represent the entire set of current class 1.2 conditions. They are just those associated with the proposed changes.

1. These sites are for the receival, inspection and holding of dogs and cats prior to trans-shipment or pick-up and delivery to a quarantine station.
2. Areas in which animals are held must be constructed of materials that prevent animal escape.
3. Animals and their waste must not be removed from their crate/cage for any reason.
4. There must be measures in place to control access to the biosecurity area where the animals are held (for example, swipe card access, door locks).
5. Biosecurity areas must not be used as a thoroughfare or access point to non-control areas or other non-related biosecurity areas.
6. Areas in which animals are held must have temperature/climate control sufficient to ensure animals are not subjected to extremes of heat or cold (to maintain animal welfare).

Note: These are the conditions that are proposed to replace the conditions shown in Appendix 1. These do not represent the entire set of proposed class 1.2 conditions. They are just those associated with the proposed changes.

Construction for animal holding rooms and equipment

1. The biosecurity area in which live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control are held at the approved arrangement site must be:
   1. located within a secure lockable building
   2. utilised only for holding imported animals
   3. isolated from other operations within the approved arrangement site.

2. The biosecurity area in which live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control are held must:

   1. be a fully enclosed (six sided) room that is lockable
   2. have walls, ceiling, and doors constructed of materials that:
      1. are solid
      2. are smooth
      3. are impermeable to liquids
      4. are easy to clean
      5. prevent escape of the animals subject to biosecurity control
      6. prevent access by Australian animals to animals subject to biosecurity control
   3. have a floor surface that is compliant with the biosecurity area floor surface conditions prescribed for this arrangement (class 1.2 approved arrangement conditions)
   4. be ventilated
   5. maintain an ambient temperature between:
      1. 10°C and 19°C for the duration that day old chicks are held, or
      2. 10°C and 19°C for the duration that snub-nosed dogs are held, or
      3. 10°C and 27°C for the duration that all other live animals and avian consignments are held, or
      4. other temperatures as specified by the department.

   Notes:

   • The entire fully enclosed room is considered as the biosecurity area.
   • Maintaining an ambient temperature range, as prescribed above, ensures animals are not subjected to extremes of heat or cold (to maintain animal welfare).
      
3. Additional security measures must be in place to limit access to the biosecurity area in which live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control are held to authorised personnel only (for example, swipe card access).
4. Biosecurity areas used for inspection of imported live aquatic animals must have:
   1. an inspection table that is compliant with the inspection table conditions prescribed for this arrangement (class 1.2 approved arrangement conditions)
   2. facilities to manage spillages of liquid waste, consisting of either a:
      1. floor drain connected to:
         • municipal sewer, or
         • a department-approved waste water management system.
      2. spill kit containing equipment to soak up and manage liquid waste.
5. A department-approved disinfectant and a department-approved hand disinfectant must be made available at time of arrival and during holding of live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control at the approved arrangement site.
   
   Notes:
   • A list of approved disinfectants and hand disinfectants are available on the department's website.
   • Virkon S (minimum of 1% dilution with a contact time of at least 10 minutes) and Vanodox (minimum of 7,000ppm (1:145 dilution) with a contact time of at least 10 minutes) are the only disinfectants approved for disinfecting equipment and surfaces used for live birds.

6. Surfaces of the biosecurity area utilised to hold live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control must be decontaminated with a department-approved disinfectant immediately after use for each consignment.
7. Any equipment that comes into physical contact with live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control must be decontaminated with a department-approved disinfectant (relevant for that species) immediately after use for each consignment.
8. Disposable coveralls and gloves must be made available for handling consignments of live birds and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control received at the approved arrangement site.

Handling and isolation for live animals and avian eggs

9. Crates/cages and packaging containing live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control must be moved and handled in a manner that prevents:
   1. damage to the crate/cage or packaging
   2. direct physical contact between the animal and the person handling the crate/cage or packaging
   3. contact with Australian animals.

   Note: Crates/cages and packaging that are moved unsecured and/or double stacked on forklifts and pallet jacks may fall during movement, potentially resulting in animals escaping and animal welfare concerns.

10. Live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control must only be kept in a biosecurity area that is approved by the department for holding live animals and avian eggs.
11. Unless otherwise directed by a biosecurity officer, live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control must be moved to a biosecurity area utilised for holding live animals and avian eggs immediately upon their arrival at the approved arrangement site.
12. The department must be notified immediately where live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control cannot be moved to a biosecurity area utilised for holding live animals and avian eggs immediately upon arrival at the approved arrangement site. This includes where live animals unexpectedly arrive at the site and the biosecurity area is already at capacity or the area is not of a size commensurate with the consignment.
13. Unless otherwise directed by a biosecurity officer, air containers that contain avian eggs must not be opened.
    Note: A biosecurity officer must be present for and will direct the opening of air containers that contain avian eggs.
14. Disposable coveralls and gloves must be worn:
    1. when handling consignments of live birds and avian egg subject to biosecurity control
    2. once (single use only) and be replaced between each consignment of live birds and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control.
15. Disposable coveralls and gloves that are removed after handling live bird and avian egg consignments must be immediately placed in the biosecurity waste receptable.
16. Consignments of live birds and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control must:
    1. not come into direct physical contact with other live animals, including other avian consignments
    2. be held in a fully enclosed (six sided) room
    3. not be held in a biosecurity area at the same time as other animals, including other avian consignments.
17. Imported cats and dogs from New Zealand must:
    1. not come into direct physical contact with cats and dogs from other countries that are subject to biosecurity control
    2. be kept physically separated during holding from cats and dogs from other countries using one of the following options:
       1. separated by a minimum distance of 7 metres, where held together in the same biosecurity area, or
       2. where a minimum distance of 7 metres cannot be achieved, holding cats and dogs from New Zealand in a different biosecurity area to which cats and dogs from other countries are being held.

    Note: Physical separation decreases the risk of transmission of airborne biosecurity diseases, such as Canine Influenza Virus.

18. The department’s post-entry quarantine facility must be notified immediately where consignments of imported cats and dogs destined for delivery to a quarantine facility are not collected within three hours of arrival into the approved arrangement site.
19. Crates/cages or packaging containing live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control must not be opened.
20. Live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control, including their waste must not be removed from their crate/cage or packaging.

Managing containment breaches and decontamination for staff handling crates/cages and packaging

21. Where live animals subject to biosecurity control are detected to have left their crate/cage or packaging, the accredited person must immediately contain the animal by:
    1. capturing and containing the animal in a cage, container, or receptacle, if safe to do so, or
    2. containing the animal within the biosecurity area utilised for holding live animals and avian eggs, or within a building or other structure at the approved arrangement site, or
    3. if it is not safe to attempt to capture or contain the animal, maintaining constant observation of the location that the animals escaped into pending further advice by the department.
22. The department must be notified immediately where live animals or avian eggs subject to biosecurity control have left their crate/cage or packaging.
23. Where waste material is detected to have left the crate/cage or packaging for live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control, the accredited person must immediately:
    1. contain the waste material to ensure it does not enter the Australian environment or be accessed by other animals
    2. collect all waste material, including any disposable equipment used to contain the waste and place it in the biosecurity waste receptable
    3. decontaminate all surfaces in contact with the waste material with a department-approved disinfectant.
24. The department must be notified immediately where waste material that is detected to have left the crate/cage or packaging for live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control cannot be immediately contained, cleaned up and/or placed in the biosecurity waste receptable.
25. Persons involved in the handling of live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control must decontaminate their hands and forearms using a department-approved hand disinfectant immediately following:
    1. physical contact with crates/cages or packaging for live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control,
    2. physical contact with live animals or avian eggs subject to biosecurity control, or
    3. physical contact with waste associated with live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control, including cleaning up of any waste that has left the crate/cage or packaging for live animals and avian eggs subject to biosecurity control.