Exporting Giraffes to Australia

24 October 2008

zoogirec.aus

Ref: AE-AU 45L
Date: 24 October 2008

1. Statutory authority

Pursuant to section 60 of the Animal Products Act 1999:

(i) I notify the following Overseas Market Access Requirements, entitled giraffes to Australia

(ii) Revoke OMAR ZOOGIREC.AUS 17.03.04.

This notice takes effect from date of signing.

Dated at Wellington on this 3^rd day of November 2008.

Signed: Matthew Stone
Group Manager BVSc ACVSc MVS (Epidemiology)
Animal Imports and Exports Group
Border Standards
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand
(pursuant to delegated authority)

2. Australia Requirements

Giraffes exported from New Zealand to Australia must comply with the import requirements of Australia listed in this notice as follows:

2.1 An import permit is required for the exportation of giraffes to Australia.

2.2 An official veterinarian of the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, must certify, after due enquiry, the following:

2.2.1 No case of any of the following diseases has occurred in New Zealand during the 12 months prior to the scheduled dated of export (according to the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code Article; definitions of country freedom):

• anaplasmosis
• anthrax
• bovine babesiosis
• bluetongue
• bovine spongiform encephalopathy
• contagious bovine pleuropneumonia
• epizootic haemorrhagic disease of deer
• foot-and-mouth disease
• lumpy skin disease
• Rift Valley fever
• rabies
• rinderpest
• vesicular stomatitis.

2.2.2 The premise of origin is:

2.2.2.1 a zoo, aquarium or other institution, approved, licensed or registered by the New Zealand MAF to hold giraffes

2.2.2.2 under the supervision of the New Zealand MAF, where the health of the animal(s) is monitored, so that incursions of diseases are identified and control and/or eradication measures can be applied. A health monitoring programme should include microbiological and parasitological tests and necropsies.

2.2.3 The animal(s) for export has been continually resident in New Zealand or Australia for at least 12 months prior to the commencement of the pre-export isolation period, or since birth.

2.2.4 No case of any of the following diseases has occurred for the indicated calendar periods in any premises where the animal(s) for export has been during the 12 months prior to the commencement of the pre-export isolation period:

• bovine brucellosis - 3 years
• bovine tuberculosis - 3 years
• enzootic bovine leukosis - 2 years
• infectious bovine rhinotracheitis - 1 year
• leptospirosis - 6 months
• bovine viral diarrhoea/mucosal disease - 1 year
• paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) - 5 years.

2.2.5 The MAF-approved pre-export isolation premise was cleaned, immediately prior to the entry of the giraffes.

2.2.6 The animal(s) was inspected within 48 hours prior to entering the pre-export isolation premise, and was found to be healthy and free from evidence of infectious or contagious disease.

2.2.7 The animal(s) was isolated from other animals not of the same health and residency status for 30 days prior to the scheduled date of export, and remained free from clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease during that period.

2.2.8 During the pre-export isolation period, each animal was subjected to a complement fixation test for brucellosis (Brucella abortus), with a negative result of 20 ICFU or less (1:1 final serum dilution).

2.2.9 During the pre-export isolation period, and after collection of sera for the above testing, each animal was subjected to an intradermal tuberculin test, using bovine PPD tuberculin and read at 72 to 96 hours following inoculation, with a negative result in each case.

2.2.10 During the pre-export isolation period, each animal was subjected to treatment with:

Either: 2.2.10.1 a broad-spectrum anthelmintic and an external parasiticide

Or: 2.2.10.2 ivermectin or an equivalent treatment at the manufacturer’s recommended dosage.

(To be deleted as applicable)

Active ingredients and dose rates used to be recorded on the export certificate.

2.2.11 The animal(s) has been individually identified with an International Standards Organisation (ISO) compliant microchip (transponder), and the site of implantation and the identification number of each animal to be recorded on the front page of the export certificate.

2.2.12 An Official Veterinarian, or a veterinarian recognised by the Official Veterinarian as having expertise in the diagnosis of disease in giraffes, has inspected each animal within 24 hours prior to export and found it to be healthy, free of evidence of infectious or contagious disease and external parasites, and fit to travel.

2.2.13 Each animal will be shipped in a container that meets the appropriate container requirements specified in the International Air Transport Association Live Animal Regulations.

2.2.14 All crates and boxes used for the transport of the animal(s) and all parts of vehicles, aircraft and vessels in which the animals may come into contact have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected subsequent to the carriage of animals other than from Australia or New Zealand, and prior to the loading of the animals, using a disinfectant approved for the inactivation of foot-and-mouth disease virus.

2.2.15 The animal(s) was transported to the port of export and loaded under appropriate quarantine security.

2.2.16 At the port of departure, animals from a different consignment were not loaded aboard the aircraft/vessel without the written permission of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS).

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 export certificate for giraffes to Australia dated 24 October 2008.

Additional Information on OMAR Notification: ZOOGIREC.AUS 24.10.08

1. This OMAR replaces the previous OMAR dated 17 March 2004. It has been updated to meet the latest Australian import requirements.

2. An import permit is required and must be applied for prior to importation into Australia. Permit applications must be sent to Live Animal Imports – Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) Canberra, for assessment.

Live Animal Imports, Phone: +61 2 62724454
AQIS, Fax: +61 2 6272 3110
GPO Box 858, Email: animalimp@aqis.gov.au
Canberra 2601, Australia

3. The exporter should refer to the Import Permit for details on conditions of administration, and post-arrival quarantine requirements.

4. AQIS will accept copies of documents where each page bears the original signature, date and stamp of the Official Veterinarian.

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'.