Australia is one of many countries that exports livestock by sea and air all over the world.
Our definition of livestock includes sheep, goats, cattle, deer, buffalo and camelids.
The livestock export industry provides over $1.6 billion to our economy. Many rural and regional communities rely on the trade to provide valuable income and employment to their region.
Our role
As the regulator, we enforce high standards. These standards reflect the values of our livestock export industry and the Australian community. This includes regulating against our strict Australian legislative and animal welfare requirements. We ensure consignments exported meet importing country requirements.
Every 6 months we report to Parliament under our regulatory framework. The reports include data on livestock mortalities for every sea voyage.
We are committed to maintaining a strong and efficient regulatory framework. Read more about our live animal export reforms.
Animal health and welfare
Australia leads the world in animal welfare. We are an active member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
We have a unique regulatory system, unlike any other country that exports livestock. We require exporters of livestock for human consumption (known as feeder and slaughter livestock) to have arrangements in place with supply chain partners. This ensures humane treatment and handling of livestock is provided from the time they arrive in the importing country up to and including the point of slaughter.
Your role
Quick-find reference tables
Use these tables to locate departmental webpages, documents and information relevant to livestock exports.
Learn more about non-livestock exports (such as dogs, cats, horses, zoo animals and reproductive material) at exporting live animals.
| Regulation and compliance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Subject name | Type | Relevant webpage… |
| Compliance statement for the export of livestock | Statement | Compliance investigations |
| ESCAS – complaints and investigations | Reports | ESCAS investigations |
| ESCAS – regulatory performance reports | Reports | ESCAS investigations |
| Independent observers – summary reports | Reports | Independent observer summary reports |
| Notifiable mortality incidents – compliance investigations | Reports | Investigations into notifiable mortality incidents |
| Publication of regulatory decisions | Public statements | Published regulatory decisions |
| Regulating live animal exports – includes links to relevant legislation | Information | Regulating live animal exports |
| Regulatory activity reporting – annual summary | Information | Regulatory activity reporting for live animal exports |
| Reports to Parliament – livestock mortalities by sea | Reports | Reports to Parliament |
| Stakeholder communication and engagement | ||
|---|---|---|
| Subject name | Type | Relevant webpage… |
| Contact us – live animal exports | Contacts | Live animal export office contacts |
| DAFF – have your say | Consultation platform | Have your say |
| Export advisory notices (EAN) – includes link to DAFF subscription centre | Notices | Live animal export advisory notices |
| Inspector-General of animal welfare and live animal exports (IGAWLAE) | Reviews | IGAWLAE |
| Market access notices (MAN) – includes link to DAFF subscription centre | Notices | Market access notices |
| Phase out of live sheep exports by sea | Information | Phase out of live sheep exports by sea |
| Public comment – includes our communication limitations during livestock incidents | Information | Public comment on livestock exports |
| Reforming live animal exports | Information | Reforming live animal exports |
| Stakeholder communication and engagement policy | Policy | Exporting live animals |
| Whistleblower hotline – to report information confidentially | Information | Whistleblower hotline |
| Statistics, fees and charges | ||
|---|---|---|
| Subject name | Type | Relevant webpage… |
| Fees and charges – DAFF | Information | Fees and charges |
| Live animal exports – cost recovery implementation statements (CRIS) | Information | Agricultural exports CRIS |
| Price fact sheet for all export arrangements (see Appendix E for live animal exports) | Fact sheet | Agricultural exports CRIS |
| Statistics – live animal exports | Statistics | Live animal export statistics |
| Systems, forms and standards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Subject name | Type | Relevant webpage… |
| Application forms – livestock | Forms | Forms for exporting livestock |
| Australian standards for the export of livestock (ASEL) | Information | Australian standards for the export of livestock |
| Manual of importing country requirements (Micor) – live animals | Reference | Micor – live animals (login required) |
| Tracking animal certification for export (TRACE) | System | Tracking animal certification for export – TRACE |
| Document name | Document type | Document can be found at… |
|---|---|---|
| AAV contact list | Reference | Current accredited veterinarians |
| Guideline for the identification and management of material interests for AAVs | Guidelines | Become an accredited veterinarian |
| Roles and responsibilities of AAVs | Guidelines | Accredited veterinarians |
| Document name | Document type | Document can be found at… |
|---|---|---|
| Alternative minimum pen space allocation policy | Policy | Approved arrangements |
| AA guidelines for the export of livestock | Guidelines | Approved arrangements |
| AEP guidelines for the export of livestock | Guidelines | Approved export program |
| Core documents for approved arrangement livestock exports | Reference | Exporting a livestock consignment |
| Performance management and compliance guidelines | Guidelines | Approved arrangements |
| Performance management and compliance guidelines – fact sheet | Fact sheet | Approved arrangements |
| Document name | Document type | Document can be found at… |
|---|---|---|
| ASEL air crate space allocation calculator | Calculator | Australian standards for the export of livestock |
| ASEL rejection criteria guidebook – cattle and buffalo | Guidebook | Australian standards for the export of livestock |
| ASEL rejection criteria guidebook – sheep and goats | Guidebook | Australian standards for the export of livestock |
| ASEL version 3.3 | Standards | Australian standards for the export of livestock |
| Document name | Document type | Document can be found at… |
|---|---|---|
| Exemptions for livestock, live animals and animal reproductive material | Policy | Exemptions |
| Operations and governance manual guidelines | Guidelines | Exemptions |
| Document name | Document type | Document can be found at… |
|---|---|---|
| ESCAO approved arrangements – application form | Form | Exporter supply chain assurance system |
| ESCAO approved arrangements – application checklist | Checklist | Exporter supply chain assurance system |
| ESCAO approved arrangements guidelines | Guidelines | Exporter supply chain assurance system |
| Third-party provider of assurance services (TPPAS) – periodic reporting requirements | Requirements | Exporter supply chain assurance system |
| Document name | Document type | Document can be found at… |
|---|---|---|
| ESCAS accounting and traceability declaration (cattle and buffalo) | Template | Apply, vary and maintain your ESCAS |
| ESCAS animal welfare standards | Standards | Exporter supply chain assurance system |
| ESCAS control and traceability declaration | Template | Apply, vary and maintain your ESCAS |
| ESCAS management of non-compliance guidelines | Guidelines | Compliance investigations |
| Document name | Document type | Document can be found at… |
|---|---|---|
| AAVs and stockpersons on sea voyages – applying for alternative arrangements | Policy | Australian standards for the export of livestock |
| Breeder cattle by sea – applying for validity extension for pregnancy testing | Policy | Australian standards for the export of livestock |
| Calculating onboard feed and water provisions under ASEL | Policy | Australian standards for the export of livestock |
| Conditions on livestock export licences – suspicions and detections of exotic animal diseases | Policy | Livestock export licence |
| Contingency plans for livestock consignments to the Middle East | Policy | Exporting a livestock consignment |
| Livestock identification requirements in laboratory test reports | Policy | Exporting a livestock consignment (see table in ‘pre-export documentation requirements’) |
| Loading foreign sourced fodder onto a vessel carrying Australian livestock | Policy | Australian standards for the export of livestock |
| Penning of immature bulls and steers under ASEL | Policy | Australian standards for the export of livestock |
| Property of origin for livestock exports | Policy | Exporting a livestock consignment (see table in ‘pre-export documentation requirements’) |
| Stock on hand in registered establishments for livestock exports | Policy | Exporting a livestock consignment |
| Timing of health status documentation for livestock exports | Policy | Exporting a livestock consignment (see table in ‘pre-export documentation requirements’) |
| Voyage length calculations under ASEL | Policy | Australian standards for the export of livestock |
| Voyage reporting requirements under ASEL | Policy | Australian standards for the export of livestock |
| Water deprivation time for livestock exported by air under ASEL | Policy | Australian standards for the export of livestock |
| Document name | Document type | Document can be found at… |
|---|---|---|
RE guidelines for the export of livestock by sea
| Guidelines
|
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Stay informed
Subscribe to Export Advisory Notices (EANs) and Market Access Notices (MANs). EANs will notify you of any changes to requirements. MANs will notify you of any market specific changes.