Interstate livestock movements

Requirements for entry

To protect Victoria's livestock and livestock industries, there are controls on the introduction of livestock from other states and territories in Australia. These controls are governed by the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994.

Livestock include cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, camelids (Alpaca, Llama), horses, deer, poultry, buffalo, camels and bees.

Prior to moving livestock into Victoria, owners must certify the health of their animals by completing prescribed certificates, vendor declarations and health statements and delivering these to the receiver of the livestock. These records must be kept for a specified period of time.

All transportation of livestock into and within Victoria must comply with the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines – Land Transport of Livestock. The Transport and Care of Livestock page contains further advice on transporting various livestock species.

Health and identification entry requirements

All diseased livestock, such as those infected with or suspected to be infected with a notifiable disease, or quarantined livestock are not permitted to enter Victoria unless issued with a licence from the Chief Veterinary Officer Unit.

There are some specific exemptions, and you should refer to the health requirements within the 'entry requirements and forms for specific species' below. There are exemptions for sheep with Ovine Johne's Disease, and a specific exemption for sheep infected with ovine footrot that are being consigned direct to slaughter within Victoria, and a specific exemption for the introduction of cattle infected with Johne's disease.

Livestock means any non-human animal, and any fish or bird, whether wild or domesticated, egg intended for hatching or bee. There are separate requirements for the importation of wildlife.

Where a domesticated species is not listed below, there are no specific identification or other health requirements for entry into Victoria.

Properties running certain livestock species in Victoria are required to apply for and have a Property Identification Code. Those species are: cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, camels, alpacas, llamas, deer, horses, camels or more than 50 poultry or 10 emus or ostriches. The term poultry in this instance refers to: domesticated fowl, chickens, ducks, geese, turkey, guinea fowl, pigeons, quail or pheasants.

Diseased livestock forms

• Application and licence to introduce diseased livestock into Victoria to an approved property [MS Word Document - 112.1 KB]
• Application and licence to introduce diseased livestock into Victoria for immediate slaughter [MS Word Document - 112.2 KB]

Entry requirements and forms for specific species

• Bees
• Cattle
• Deer
• Goats
• Sheep
• Pigs
• Poultry
• Pest animals – American Bison and Blackbuck are Regulated Pest Animals.

Exemptions

There are currently no entry requirements for the following animals into Victoria:

• Dogs
• Cats
• Caged birds
• Horses
• Poultry (other than domestic chickens for commercial flocks) – for commercial chickens refer below
• Rabbits and guinea pigs
• Fallow Deer (refer below for other deer species)
• Camelids – Alpaca, Llama.

It is recommended that owners introducing exempted animals to Victoria seek further advice from their private veterinary practitioner about current recommendations for vaccinations and treatments.