Exporting Horses via Australia (Alternate)

1 July 2011

hortniec1.aus

Ref:  AE-AU-13L
Date: 1 July 2011

1. Statutory authority

Pursuant to section 60 of the Animal Products Act 1999:

(i) I notify the following overseas market access requirements (transit), entitled horses via Australia (Alternate)

(ii) Revoke OMAR B HORTNIEC1.AUS 29.04.11.

This notice takes effect from date of signing.

Dated at Wellington this 3^rd day of August 2011

Signed: Matthew Stone BVSc MVS MACVSc
Group Manager
Animal Imports and Exports
Import Export Directorate
Standards Branch
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
(pursuant to delegated authority)

2.  Australia (Transit) requirements

Horses to Australia (transit) must comply with the import requirements of Australia listed in this notice as follows:

2.1 A Transit Permit is required for the exportation of horses from New Zealand via Australia.

2.2 An Official Veterinarian authorised by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, must certify, after due enquiry, the following:

2.2.1  Each horse has been continuously resident in New Zealand and/or Australia and free of quarantine restriction for at least  fourteen (14) days immediately preceding shipment, and has not had contact with, or been resident on the same property as, any horse imported from a third country in the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding shipment.

2.2.2  *In the case of a horse that has been resident in a country other than New Zealand or Australia during the 60 days prior to the scheduled date of export, list the other countries that the horse has resided in on the export certificate.

* To be deleted if not applicable

2.2.3  At the time of shipment the horse(s) was not under quarantine restrictions or subject to movement control for animal health reasons.

2.2.4  After due enquiry, in the case of a mare, either the mare is not pregnant or is less than seven (7) months pregnant.

2.2.5  After due enquiry, I am satisfied that during the thirty (30) days immediately prior to the scheduled date of export, there has been no clinical evidence of the following diseases in horses on the premises of origin of the horse(s) to be exported, nor on any of the premises that the horse(s) to be exported has visited during this period:

equine viral arteritis (EVA)                    EHV-1(abortigenic and neurological strains)     

2.2.6  The horse(s) has had no contact during the three (3) months prior to the scheduled date of export with any known equine viral arteritis sero‑positive carrier stallion in New Zealand.

2.2.6.1*  In the case of mares, geldings, and male or female foals less than twelve (12) months of age the animals were isolated from horses not of equivalent EVA status for the twenty-eight (28) days prior to export and during this period the animals showed no clinical sign of EVA;

2.2.6.2*  In the case of uncastrated male horses over twelve (12) months of age:
                       
2.2.6.2.1  Either* Tested seronegative horse
The horse was isolated from horses not of equivalent EVA status for the twenty-eight (28) days prior to export, and during this period showed no clinical sign of EVA.  Within the twenty-one (21) days prior to the scheduled date of export, a single blood sample from the horse was tested using a virus neutralisation test (VNT) as described in the OIE Manual for EVA, with a negative result (negative at less than 1:4);

2.2.6.2.2  Or*  Known seropositive horse because of complying pre-pubertal vaccination
Blood samples were taken from the horse between six (6) and nine (9) months of age on two occasions at least fourteen (14) days apart, and were tested using a VNT as described in the OIE Manual for EVA, with a stable or decreasing antibody titre. The horse was immediately vaccinated against EVA and has been revaccinated regularly according  to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

2.2.6.2.3  Or*  Known seropositive horse because of complying vaccination 
The horse was isolated, and a single blood sample taken from the horse not less than seven (7) days after the commencement of isolation was tested using a VNT as described in the OIE Manual for EVA, with a negative result (negative at less than 1:4). The horse was then immediately vaccinated against EVA, remained isolated from other equids not of equivalent health status for twenty-one (21) days immediately after vaccination, and has been evaccinated regularly according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

2.2.6.2.4  Or*  Non-complying vaccinated or non-vaccinated tested seropositive horse 
A single blood sample taken from the horse was tested using a VNT    as described in the OIE Manual for EVA, with a positive result    (positive is greater than or equal to 1:4); and
after due enquiry, the horse has not been treated with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists, or vaccinated against GnRH, for at least twelve (12) months before
test mating or collection of the first semen sample; and

2.2.6.2.4.1  Either* (a) the horse has subsequently been test-mated to two (2) mares during the six (6) months prior to export.  Blood samples have been taken from the mares on two (2) occasions, at the time of mating and again twenty-eight (28) days after test mating, and tested using a VNT as described in the OIE Manual for EVA, with negative results in each case (negative at less than 1:4);
                                                           
2.2.6.2.4.2  Or* (b) one semen sample has been taken from the horse during the six (6) months prior to export, and tested using a virus isolation test as described in the OIE Manual for EVA with negative results;
                                                           
2.2.6.2.4.3  Or* (c) one semen sample has been taken from the horse during the six (6) months after the blood sample was tested. The semen sample was tested using a using a virus isolation test as described in the OIE Manual for EVA, with negative results. The horse was then immediately vaccinated and revaccinated regularly according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
                                                           
*Delete the above options that do not apply

2.2.7  After due enquiry each horse, including unweaned foals under six (6) months of age, has:

2.2.7.1  Either* Resided since birth only in Australia and/or New Zealand;

2.2.7.2  Or* During the sixty (60) days before export blood samples have been taken from the horse and tested using an indirect fluorescent antibody test for Babesia caballi and Theileria equi as described in the OIE Manual for equine piroplasmosis with negative results in each case; and

2.2.7.2.1  (a) after due enquiry, the horse has not been treated with imidocarb, or other anti-babesial agents active against B. caballi or T. equi, for at least sixty (60) days prior to export; and

2.2.7.2.2  (b) after due enquiry, the horse has not been tested for equine piroplasmosis (B. caballi or T. equi)  with a positive result for at least sixty (60) days prior to export; and

2.2.7.2.3  (c) after due enquiry, during the sixty (60) days prior to export there has been no clinical evidence of equine piroplasmosis, whether iatrogenically transmitted or not,  in the horses for export or any horses in contact with the horses for export.

*Delete the above option that does not apply

2.2.8  All samples for testing have been taken by an Official Veterinarian, or a veterinarian authorised by an Official Veterinarian.  All testing has been conducted in either a government approved laboratory in New Zealand, or in a laboratory in another country recognised by the New Zealand government.

2.2.9  The horse(s) to be exported has been examined by an Official Veterinarian within 24 hours prior to the scheduled time of export, found to be free from clinical signs of infectious or contagious diseases, visibly free from external parasites, and healthy and fit to travel.

2.2.10  Prior to loading, the vehicle used to transport the horses to the port of export has been cleaned and disinfected.

2.2.11  After due enquiry, during transport to the port of export, the horse(s) has had no contact with equids not of equivalent health status.

2.2.12  Prior to the loading of the horse(s) at the port, all removable equipment for use with the horses, the container(s) used to transport the horse(s) to Australia, and the compartment(s) of the aircraft or vessel to be occupied by it, had been cleaned and disinfected.

2.2.13.1  *For air transport, the design of the containers, the recommended species requirements and the preparation for transport is in accordance with the recommendations of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code and the IATA Live Animal Regulations.
           
2.2.13.2  *For sea transport, facilities and arrangements meet the requirements of the MAF Standard for the Export of Horses from New Zealand by Sea.

*To be deleted if not applicable

2.2.14.1  After due enquiry, I am satisfied that the horse(s) will remain isolated from all animals not of equivalent health status during transport from New Zealand until arrival in Australia. 

3.  Definitions

For the purposes of this document:

Any term or expression that is defined in the Animal Products Act 1999 and used, but not defined in this document, has the same meaning as in this Act.

Explanatory note

This OMAR is based on the transit certificate for horses to Australia (Alternate), dated 1 July 2011.

Additional information on OMAR notification – HORTNIEC1.AUS 01.07.11

1.  This OMAR is based on the transit certificate for horses via Australia (Alternate) dated 1 July 2011. This OMAR replaces the previous one dated 29 April 2011. It has been based on the transit certificate dated 11 December 2009 and the Zoosanitary Certificate for horses to Australia dated 8 March 2011. The certificate was amended to correct an error in the semen test, and this change was approved by DAFF on 25 May 2011.

2.  The certificate is for horses transiting via Australia en route to another country. A transit includes: a plane carrying horses touching down to re-fuel, where horses may change planes, or where horses are moved to a transitional facility to await an onward flight.

3.  A Transit Permit is required, and must be applied for prior to export. Permit applications must be sent to Live Animal Imports – AQIS, GPO Box 858, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia. Phone: + 61 2 6272 4454; Fax: + 61 2 6272 3110; E-mail: animalimp@aqis.gov.au. Where the transit permit is a stamped transit permit application form that is not numbered, this document should be referenced in the line for the Import Permit Number.

4.  AQIS has requested that an Official Assurance, in the form of a Transit Certificate, be supplied for all horses that transit through an Australian port, either by air or sea.

5.  The Australian Authorities have informed MAF that if a horse, which is transiting Australia by air or sea, is being off loaded from the plane or ship in Australia it will be technically imported into Australia. Once imported into Australia, the horse may not be able to continue its journey by air or sea.

6.  ‘Horses’ include asses, mules and donkeys.

7.  Where a horse has been resident in a country other than New Zealand or Australia during the sixty (60) days prior to the scheduled date of export, AQIS must specifically authorise the import. The health status of the horse must be assessed, and the quarantine requirements for each country of residence must be addressed.

8.  The term ‘resident’ refers to the period defined in each clause, e.g. in clause 2.2.1 the period of residence is fourteen (14) days.

9.  Where one Zoosanitary Certificate is used for multiple horses, the following applies:
(a)  an attached schedule may be used in place of the table in I of the export certificate: Identification of the Animal with the wording ‘see attached schedule’ entered in the first column of the table and the other columns in the table voided
(b)     the ‘Name and address of premises of origin’ in II of the export certificate: Source of the Animals must state the full address of the premises of origin.

10.  Where animals in a consignment have a different health status (different option in clause 2.2.6 and 2.2.7 used), or contain a horse imported from a third country within the last sixty (60) days as per clause 2.2.2, use a separate Zoosanitary Certificate, including foals over six (6) months of age.

11.  The Official Veterinarian must:
(a)  attach certification applicable to unweaned foals under six (6) months of age to the Zoosanitary Certificate of the foal’s dam
(b)  sign, date and stamp (with the stamp of the Veterinary Authority) each page of the Zoosanitary Certificate and attach all original documents e.g. lab reports, that form part of the extended veterinary certification
(c)  copies of supporting documents must be endorsed on every page with the original signature, date and stamp of the Official Veterinarian.

12.  Clause 2.2.6.1, 2.2.6.2.1 and 2.2.11 – Biosecurity Australia regards NZ to be ‘free’ of EVA based on the presence of one EVA shedder stallion managed under the EVA Control Scheme, the level of passive surveillance, and the disease being notifiable in NZ. The wording isolated from horses not of equivalent EVA status means the horse has had no contact with the EVA shedder stallion, or horses in contact with the EVA shedder stallion, for twenty eight (28) days.

13.  For Clause 4 of the export certificate - CERTIFICATION AT THE PORT OF EXPORT supporting documents in the form of declarations provided by the exporter to the Official Veterinarian may be used to support the signing of the official assurance.

14.  Clause 2.2.11of this OMAR - ‘Had no contact with equids not of equivalent health status’ relates to horses under quarantine restriction, and to EVA status and having no contact with the EVA shedder stallion, or horses in contact with the EVA shedder stallion during the last twenty eight (28) days. When horses travel by multiple transport vehicles or stop off at a depot, this can be managed by using separation by distance to ensure that no contact occurs.

15.  Clause 2.2.12 of this OMAR - removable equipment means any equipment (e.g. hay nets, water containers) that is associated with the horse or the container it will travel in, and has been used previously by another horse not in the same consignment. Equipment such as horse gear (e.g. bridle, cover etc) that has been used by the horse on the property of origin prior to departure from that property does not need to be cleaned and disinfected prior to departure from the port. Where equipment such as horse gear used by a horse is changed prior to the departure from the port, the equipment must be either new or cleaned and disinfected.

16.  During transport from New Zealand until arrival in Australia the consignment may be accompanied by other horses of equivalent health status or animals of other species only with the prior approval of AQIS.

17.  The MAF Biosecurity Authority Standard: MAF Standard for the export of horses from New Zealand by sea (11 November 1999) can be downloaded from: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/exports/animals/standards/horses-by-sea.htm.

18.  The use of hay or straw as bedding during transport is not permitted. Treated wood shavings, sterilised peat and soft board can be used.

19.  An Australian government veterinarian may be required to accompany the shipment to Australia at the importer’s expense.

Section 61.A of the Animal Products Amendments Act 2005 states that 'The Crown is not liable, and nor is the Director-General or any employee of the Ministry liable, for any loss arising through the refusal or failure of the relevant authority of an overseas market to admit export animal material or animal product to that market.'