Review of the Australian Standards for Export of Livestock

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has commenced a review of the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL). The review will be conducted in 3 separate stages with each stage taking several months.

Stage 1 related to the format and content of ASEL. Nineteen submissions were received from individuals, businesses, industry, animal welfare organisations and government departments. The committee will use the submissions to recommend format improvements for the standards and set the direction for the rest of the review in Stage 2 and Stage 3.

Submissions can be viewed from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website.

The ASEL review is important because all cattle and buffalo destined for live export must comply with ASEL. Of note, ASEL sets the identification, pregnancy testing and spaying standards for export cattle and buffalo. There has been ongoing concerns raised about cattle not being adequately identified and their pregnancy testing status being incorrectly reported. NT Government currently administers the accreditation of non-veterinarians who pregnancy test NT cattle and buffalo for export. The ASEL review provides the opportunity for feedback from stakeholders; including producers, agents, exporters and veterinarians on whether State and Territory Government agencies should be involved in the accreditation process under ASEL as well as the ability to be involved and provide feedback on any other ASEL component to influence the outcomes of the review.

ASEL supports continued live export market access, minimisation of adverse welfare outcomes and risks to industry.