Purpose of this document
This document is designed to assist importers with the submission of information/applications for the import of fertile hatching eggs (poultry).
Submission of forms and applications
The following table summarises the timeframes for submission of forms and applications. Information regarding the details of these is not covered in this document. Details are available on the department’s website and/or via the relevant contacts listed below.
| Application or Form to be submitted by the importer | Date or Time | Contact/More Information |
|---|---|---|
| Booking the facility | On or before 30 April for bookings in the following two calendar years (Government owned facilities) OR as required by the Approved arrangement(AA) site | Complete the Application for booking at PEQ – Avian Compound DOCX [80 KB] OR AA site – private arrangements |
| Apply for import permit | Six (6) months prior to import | Visit the department’s Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) to apply. |
| Submit operational plan to government facility manager for approval (not applicable for AA site) | At least four (4) weeks prior to import | By email to the government facility manager. |
| Advise the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP – formerly AAHL) of the testing schedule | At least four (4) weeks prior to import | Notifications must be sent to the following email addresses:
|
| Advise ACDP of any changes to the testing schedule | At least four (4) weeks prior to testing (approximately two (2) weeks prior to import) | As above. |
Submit a Notice of Intent to import fertile hatching eggs (NOI) form Include the transport plan and transport contingency plan for movement of the eggs from port of arrival to the facility. Note: If egg boxes will be moved individually at any stage of transport until entry into the post-arrival quarantine facility in Australia, the first air container packing option in Health Certificate 1 (boxes to be individually placed in plastic bags or have plastic lining) must be used. The import permit holder must make the exporter aware of which packing option is required based on the transfer arrangements to be used in Australia. | 1-2 weeks prior to import | To the avian imports program and either:
|
Submit the NOI Appendix A: Pre-export compliance statement and any necessary attachments (e.g. laboratory reports) for pre-export compliance assessment prior to uplift. The department will not provide approval for the eggs to be uplifted until satisfied that pre-export compliance has been demonstrated. | At least three (3) working days prior to scheduled uplift | As above |
| Submit the final complete first veterinary health certificate fully endorsed by the Official Veterinarian. | On arrival at airport^ or government quarantine isolation facility or AA site * | As above |
| Submit the second veterinary health certificate | Prior to hatch | As above |
Importers are advised that they are required to pay all costs associated with the importation and quarantine of imported eggs, hatched birds and sentinels. Fertile eggs are a high-risk commodity. Importers will be required to pay all costs, even in the event that the consignment does not meet import requirements, is diseased and/or needs to be euthanized and disposed of.
Only commercial poultry may undergo post-arrival quarantine isolation at an AA site. Commercial and non-commercial poultry may undergo post-arrival quarantine isolation at government facilities.
^Eggs must stay in the approved aircraft container (air can) until a biosecurity officer arrives and checks the seals, and supervises the unloading.
*Flights must arrive at a time that ensures the safe and secure transfer of eggs to these facilities. If this is not possible, scheduled arrival time must be advised as early as possible for consideration of approval by the department, before the NOI is submitted.