Tasmania has controls over the importation of animals, disease agents, biosecurity matter and carriers from other States or Territories. These controls are enacted under the Biosecurity Act 2019 (the Act).

These import requirements and conditions can be found within one easy-to-access document, the Tasmanian Animal Biosecurity Manual​ (TABM).

The TABM is a dynamic document and is updated from time-to-time as imports requirements are reviewed to ensure they are fit-for-purpose and continue to build on the strength of our biosecurity and traceability systems.​​

What has changed?

1.1.2 Equidae – horses, donkeys, mules, ponies, zebras

Food during transport

Wording updated to align with the Plant Biosecurity Manual Tasmania​.

​General notes about the importation of animals and animal products

Fees and Charges

An explanatory section on Fees and Charges has been added to notify importers that fees and charges may apply to recover the costs of operational functions carried out by authorised officers under the Act, including import inspections and clearance operations.

Provision of documentation

A note has been added that any certification and/or other documentation required for importation of animals and animal products may be provided to Biosecurity Tasmania in either hard copy or electronic formats. Documents provided must be clear, accessible and all information able to be read.

Updates to importation requirements for Cattle (3.1.7), Goats (3.1.12), Pigs (3.1.18) and Sheep (3.1.22)

Post-sale summary documentation may now be provided as an alternative to National Vendor Declarations (NVDs) [Cattle, Goats and Sheep only]

The TABM previously required importers of cattle, sheep and goats to supply a valid NVD or electronic NVD (eNVD) to Biosecurity Tasmania for each consignment as part of import documentation.

Under Section 24 of the Biosecurity (Livestock Traceability) Regulations 2024​ the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania has approved the saleyard post-sale summary as a movement document. A post-sale summary may be provided as an alternative to NVDs or eNVDs for cattle, sheep and goats.

Post-sale summaries are a type of document provided by saleyards. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Purchaser/buyer post-sale summary/report,
• Saleyard outward movement record,
• Purchaser information (complete),
  
• Buyer’s reconciliation/summary report.

Regardless of which version is used, a post-sale summary document must include the following information to be accepted by Biosecurity Tasmania:

• Address and name of sale venue.
• Date of the sale.
• Selling agent’s name.
• Saleyard Number or PIC
• Vendor (origin) PIC. 
• All NVD numbers associated with the consignor’s movement document. 
• Destination (transfer) PIC. 
• Number of head in each purchase lot. 
• Description of the livestock categories.

A post-sale summary may include the time of last access to feed and water.

Provision of Health Certificates and National Health Declarations now voluntary [cattle, goats and sheep only]

The TABM previously required importers of cattle, sheep and goats to supply a valid health certificate endorsed by an Authorised Officer from the Department of Primary Industries or equivalent in the state of origin to Biosecurity Tasmania as part of import documentation for breeding or store animals. Sheep and goats were also required to supply a National Health Declaration.

Provision of health certificates and national health declarations is now voluntary for cattle, goats and sheep. Health certificate requirements for pigs remain the same.

Importers can use the existing health certificates and national health declarations if they are seeking assurances on the disease status of the nominated diseases. 

Importers are recommended to continue to source a health certificate and a national health declaration for store or breeding animals as best-practice for herd management and to meet your General Biosecurity Duty.

Notification of animal welfare status [all]

The TABM previously stipulated importers were to provide a completed copy of the ‘Animal Welfare Guidelines - Transport of Livestock Across Bass Strait Declaration’ form to Biosecurity Tasmania for livestock being shipped across Bass Strait.

This has been expanded now to include ‘Animal Welfare Food and Water Access Statement’, or ‘Transport of Livestock Across Bass Strait Declaration’. 

An ‘Animal Welfare Food and Water Access Statement’ must clearly state the time and date of last access to food and water for all consignments of livestock crossing Bass Strait, cross referenced to consignment details.

It may be in the form of:

• The ‘Animal Welfare Guidelines - Transport of Livestock Across Bass Strait Declaration’ form.
• A signed company transport declaration.
• A post-sale summary.

The statement may be supplied in either hard copy or electronic format.

Pregnancy restrictions for shipping [Cattle, pigs and sheep]

Pregnancy cut-offs for cattle, goats, pigs and sheep crossing Bass Strait have been added:

• Cattle known to be, or visually assessed to be, more than 37 weeks pregnant must not be transported across Bass Strait.
• Pigs known to be, or visually assessed to be, more than 14 weeks pregnant must not be transported across Bass Strait.
  
• Sheep known to be, or visually assessed to be, more than 19 weeks pregnant must not be transported across Bass Strait.
  
  

Other

• Explanatory notes about Biosecurity and Animal Health, Animal Welfare, Identification, and Food Safety added for all sections.
• 3.1.7 Cattle now includes ‘slaughter’ cattle, removing the requirement for cattle other than ‘breeding’ and ‘store’ to have an Individual Permit to enter Tasmania. 
• 3.1.22 Sheep – updated to include sheep travelling to King Island.
• 3.1.22c Sheep returning to Tasmania
  
• Sheep of Tasmanian origin returning to Tasmania no longer require an Individual Permit for entry.
• The ‘Declaration by owner – reimportation of sheep of Tasmanian origin’ form has been removed.
  
  

​3.3.14 Non-viable fin fish (fish meat)

In this section, material (carcass, or part of a carcass) of any fish species listed in ‘Schedule 1​​​ – Non-viable Fin Fish’ may not be imported unless it is heat-treated and accompanied by certification.

The listing for ‘Sardinops sagax (Pilchard or pacific sardine)’ in Schedule 1 has been updated to ‘Sardinops sagax (Pilchard or pacific sardine) of non-Australian origin’ to allow for Australian-origin sardines to be imported for all uses.

Further information

For further information visit the Biosecurity Tasmania​ website, call (03) 6165 3777, or email biosecurity.tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au​