28 June 2021
Who does this notice affect?
This notice is for all airlines, freight forwarders, pet transport companies and importers of cats and dogs to Australia.
What has changed?
Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) Animal Releases and Victorian COVID lockdowns
Staged restrictions in Victoria are continuing as a result of COVID-19. Pet owners and agents are permitted to collect animals from the PEQ on the scheduled release date during a COVID lockdown in Victoria. It is classed as an essential service as per the ‘restriction levels’ on the Department of Health and Human Services and Victoria (DHHS) website.
Please refer to the DHHS website for any further information.
Animals cannot be released from biosecurity control prior to fulfilling the required minimum 10 days of quarantine at the PEQ. The PEQ is also unable to accommodate overstays of animals and they will need to be collected on their nominated release date.
Pet owners and agents are advised to check state or territory government websites for interstate travel movement restrictions prior to collecting their animals from the PEQ or to engage the services of pet transport companies to collect or fly their animal’s interstate.
Pet owners and agents are also advised to bring copies of their release appointment and appropriate identification as proof that their animals require collection from PEQ in case they are stopped at the border or within the greater Melbourne metropolitan area.
PEQ Christmas shut down period 2021/22
The Post-Entry quarantine facility will remain fully operational and continue to accept booking requests for animal reservations until the final animal arrival date of Friday, 10 December 2021. As in previous year’s, PEQ booking reservations will be closed over the Christmas period and will recommence on Wednesday, 5 January 2022.
Cat and dog release appointments will continue to be scheduled as normal until 20 December 2021.
Pet owners and agents are advised to make flight arrangements and PEQ reservations as soon as their import permit is approved and if you wish to amend the reservation date, please email PEQservices@awe.gov.au
Further information
Importers are encouraged to check our website regularly or subscribe to our mailing list for up to date information.
Contact information
If you require further information, please call 1800 900 090 or email PEQservices@awe.gov.au