Import Conditions

Case: Felidae for zoological purposes Effective 21 Aug 2020 to 05 Dec 2020

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, Water and the Environment 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 person in charge of the goods 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, Water and the Environment at the port of arrival.
      

   3. One person in charge of the goods, as listed on the import permit, 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 person in charge of the goods 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, Water and the Environment.
      

      4.2. The entry number.
      

      4.3. A contact number for the person in charge of the goods.
      

      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 person in charge of the goods must make an appointment for inspection of the animal(s) by the department at the port of arrival. The person in charge of the goods 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 biosecurity control, be exported or be disposed of without recompense.
      

Warnings and Information Notices


For animal and biological import information, contact the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Client Contact Group Canberra.


4. These requirements apply to members of the Order Carnivora, Family Felidae, other than the domestic cat Felis catus.

5. Certification requirements
   

   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 and import declaration 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.
   

6. The document must detail the name and address of the person in charge of the goods and the exporter.
   

7. The document must include the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 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:

• Website: OIE homepage
• DeptAg: Minimum documentary and import declaration requirements policy

6. 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 Australian territory.
      

   2. Animals must be consigned to Australian territory by a route approved by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
      

   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 Australian territory 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 Australian territory.
      

7. Arrival in Australia

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

   2. Vehicles for transporting the animals from the first point of entry to the AA site 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 AA site.
      

   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 AA site.
      

   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 AA site if they are accompanying the animal to the AA site.
      

   5. All biosecurity risk material (e.g. bedding, feed, water and waste material) remaining at the airport must be sealed in bags and disposed of as biosecurity waste.
      

   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.
      

8. Post-arrival quarantine

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

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

   3. The AA site should be located within a secure part of a zoo or wildlife park 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. All PAQ operations and procedures must follow those outlined for an AA class 7.9 facility and also include:
      

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

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

      5.3. Vehicles for transporting animals must not leave the AA site until thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
      

      5.4. 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.
      

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

      5.6. Animals must not leave the AA site during PAQ without permission of the department.
      

      5.7. At the satisfactory completion of PAQ, the animal will be released from biosecurity control into premises approved by the appropriate State or Territory governments for the holding of non-domestic felidae.
      

   6. Animals/tissues/body parts imported from a country which has been included in the list of countries recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) as posing "Controlled bovine spongiform encaphalopathy risk" must not be allowed entry into the human and/or animal food chains.
      

9. Under the Biosecurity Charges Imposition (General) Regulation 2016 and Chapter 9, Part 2 of the Biosecurity Regulation 2016, fees are payable to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment for all services. Detail on how the department applies fees and levies may be found in the Charging guidelines.

10. In addition to the conditions for the goods being imported, non-commodity concerns must be assessed including container cleanliness, packaging and destination concerns, and may be subject to inspection and treatment on arrival. Please refer to the Non-Commodity Cargo Clearance BICON case for further information.

Warnings and Information Notices


You may require a wildlife trade permit and/or other approvals from the Wildlife Trade Regulation section. More information is available on the International wildlife trade webpage.