Import Conditions

Case: Primates for zoological purposes Effective 19 Sep 2015 to 30 Oct 2015

1. Importation is only permitted into a zoo, aquarium or wildlife park approved under relevant state or territory legislation to hold the species being imported.

2. Prior to the importation of goods into Australia, a valid import permit issued by the Department of Agriculture is required.
   

   An import permit may be obtained by submitting an import permit application to the department (if viewed online, use the 'Apply Now' button at the bottom of this page).
   

3. Conditions of Administration

   1. It is the importer’s responsibility to identify and ensure compliance with all requirements of any other regulatory and advisory bodies prior to and after importation.
      

   2. Consignments must be addressed and sent to the Department of Agriculture at the port of arrival.
      

   3. One importer, as listed on the import permit, or nominated agent, must be accessible to officers of the department and accept responsibility for ensuring that all import conditions are met, including the inspection by the department.
      

   4. The importer must notify the office of the department in the state of import in writing at least three (3) working days prior to import. The notification must include:
      4.1. The import permit number issued by the Department of Agriculture.
      

      4.2. The quarantine entry number.
      

      4.3. A contact number for the importer.
      

      4.4. The flight number.
      

      4.5. The air waybill number.
      

      4.6. The date and estimated time of arrival.
      

      4.7. A list of animals being imported.
      

   5. The importer or agent must make an appointment for inspection of the animal(s) by the department at the port of arrival. The importer or agent may be required to be present at this inspection and provide all veterinary certification.
      

   6. Consignments that do not meet the department's import conditions will either remain in quarantine control, be exported or be destroyed without recompense.
      

Warnings and Information Notices


For animal and biological import assessments information, contact the Department of Agriculture Import Services Team.


4. Certification must be provided to verify freedom from disease(s) and specify the health status of each animal.
   

   To demonstrate compliance with this requirement you must present the following on a Veterinary Certificate:

   Evidence that all of the requirements on the veterinary certificate have been met.
   

Warnings and Information Notices


In addition to meeting the department's Minimum documentary requirements policy the veterinary certificate must comply with the following:


1. A certificate must be supplied for each animal.
   

2. The document must be written in English, and a language understood by the official veterinarian of the country of export.
   

3. The document must meet all requirements of the veterinary certification conditions.
   

4. The document must provide all relevant statement/s.
   

5. The document must provide identification of each animal. This includes description, species, sex, age and microchip number with site of implantation (if applicable).
   

6. The document must detail the name and address of the importer and the exporter.
   

7. The document must include the Department of Agriculture import permit number.
   

8. The document must include the nature and identification of the means of transport.
   

9. The official veterinarian's name, title and contact details must appear on the veterinary certificate.
   

10. The document must be signed, dated and stamped (with the stamp of the government veterinary administration) on each page of the veterinary certificate and all documents e.g. laboratory reports which form part of the extended health certification.
    

11. Copies of documents will be accepted which bear the original signature, date and stamp of the official veterinarian.
    

Note: An official veterinarian is a veterinarian authorised by the veterinary administration of the exporting country to perform animal health certification in conformity with the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Code.


Related Information:

• World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
• Minimum documentary requirements policy

5. Transport

   1. Exporters or their agents must have detailed plans to cover procedures including contingency plans, for transporting the animal from pre-export establishment until arrival in Australia.
      

   2. Animals must be consigned to Australia by a route approved by the Department of Agriculture.
      

   3. Animals must travel in a container recommended for that particular species under the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animal Regulations.
      

   4. All feed used during transport to Australia must enter the pre-export establishment before commencement of this period.
      

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

   6. Animals must remain isolated from all animals except those that meet all the conditions described in this import permit, during transport from pre-export establishment until arrival in Australia.
      

6. Arrival in Australia

   1. Importers or their agents must have a plan developed in consultation with the Department of Agriculture to cover post-arrival procedures. The plan must include roles and responsibilities for their staff, vehicles for transporting animals to the quarantine approved premises (QAP) and road transport arrangements including contingency plans for vehicle and equipment failures.
      

   2. Vehicles for transporting the animals from the port of entry to the QAP must be cleaned and disinfected to the satisfaction of the departmental officer before loading the animals. The department must be advised of the transport route to the QAP.
      

   3. After the animals arrive at an Australian airport they must be transferred in their transport containers onto vehicles, along with personnel and equipment, and proceed directly to the QAP.
      

   4. All personnel travelling with, or that have had contact with the animals, biosecurity risk material or travel containers, must undertake appropriate decontamination measures as specified by the department before leaving the airport or the QAP if they are accompanying the animal to the QAP.
      

   5. All biosecurity risk material (e.g. bedding, feed, water and waste material) remaining at the airport must be sealed in bags, ordered into quarantine and disposed of under supervision of the department.
      

   6. All equipment used during transport of the animal, and all baggage and personal equipment accompanying personnel, must be cleaned and disinfected under supervision of the department before leaving the airport.
      

7. Post-arrival quarantine

   In this section, quarantine means the holding of animals in a place and under conditions specified by the Department of Agriculture pursuant to the Quarantine Act 1908.

   1. The post-arrival quarantine (PAQ) facility must meet the department requirements for a QAP class 7.9 facility.
      

   2. The QAP must be approved by the department before entry of any animal into the QAP.
      

   3. The QAP should be located within a secure part of a zoo, wildlife park or other scientific institution approved under relevant Australian State or Territory legislation to hold the species being imported, separated from public access areas and where it is under regular supervision by a registered veterinarian.
      

   4. The animal must be held in PAQ for at least 30 days. During this time the animal was isolated from other animals except those that meet all the conditions described in this import permit.
      

   5. While in PAQ, each animal must be tested for tuberculosis with negative results using intradermal mammalian tuberculin testing as per the manufacturer’s instructions or gamma interferon assay (Primagam). The animals must be kept in buildings or enclosures that preclude direct contact with other primates or ungulates until they have been tested for tuberculosis with negative results.
      

   6. All PAQ operations and procedures must follow those outlined for a QAP class 7.9 facility and also include:
      

      6.1. A registered veterinarian must inspect the QAP before entry of any animal to ensure it has been cleaned and disinfectant applied to his/her satisfaction.
      

      6.2. The PAQ period will commence from the time of entry into the facility of the last animal.
      

      6.3. Vehicles for transporting animals must not leave the QAP until thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
      

      6.4. If any animal dies during PAQ, the department must be notified within 24 hours and the animal must undergo a post mortem examination by a registered veterinarian to determine the cause of death.
      

      6.5. The department is to be advised within 24 hours of any disease incident and its outcome.
      

      6.6. Animals must not leave the QAP during PAQ without permission of the department.
      

      6.7. At the satisfactory completion of PAQ, the animal will be released from quarantine into premises approved by the appropriate State or Territory governments for the holding of primates.
      

   7. Imported primates will remain under quarantine surveillance for life. Conditions of quarantine surveillance include: notification by the owner to the department of any signs of sickness, death or intended transfer of the imported animal to another facility.
      

8. Under the Quarantine Service Fees Determination 2005, fees are payable to the Department of Agriculture for all services. A list of all quarantine & export fees is available on the Department of Agriculture's website.

9. Non-commodity information requirements for imported cargo also apply, please refer to the BICON case Non-Commodity Cargo Clearance.

Warnings and Information Notices


Containers, timber packing, pallets or dunnage associated with the consignment will be subject to inspection and treatment on arrival, unless certified as having been treated by a Department of Agriculture approved method.


All documentation presented to the Department to assist in determining the level of biosecurity risk posed by transportation pathways and packaging must also meet the requirements of the non-commodity case.