Compensation in an emergency animal disease outbreak

If livestock or property is destroyed as a part of official control activities during an emergency animal disease (EAD) outbreak, compensation may be payable.

• Compensation is only available for declared compensatable exotic diseases (for example, foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza).
• Payments are made at market value for livestock, livestock products, and property destroyed or lost because of official control actions.
• Compensation helps encourage early reporting so that outbreaks can be controlled quickly.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for compensation if:

• your livestock or property was destroyed, or ordered to be destroyed, by Agriculture Victoria to control or prevent spread of a declared compensatable exotic disease
• your livestock died, before destruction, from a declared compensatable exotic disease, as certified by an authorised inspector.

Compensation may not be paid if you failed to notify Agriculture Victoria, delayed reporting or were convicted of an offence that caused or contributed to the outbreak.

Compensation and valuation

• The value of livestock for compensation is based on the market value of the livestock at the time the disease was first reported or restrictions began – whichever occurred first.
• Valuations are made as if the animals were healthy, using prices and condition at that point in time.
• Livestock value takes into account age, sex, breed, body condition and other relevant factors.
• Local market sales immediately before the outbreak are used as a reference.
• Standard valuation tables are used for common livestock classes, while stud or elite animals are valued individually.
• Property (such as fodder, equipment or vehicles) is valued at its market worth at the time of destruction.

What is not covered

Consequential losses, such as lost income, lost production or breach of contract, are not covered.

Disputes and special cases

If agreement on valuation cannot be reached, an independent arbitrator appointed by the Minister for Agriculture will decide the value.

In some cases, ‘top-up’ compensation payments may be available if restocking costs more than the original market value at the time restrictions are lifted.

How does this work in practice?

If you are affected by control activities during an outbreak, you will be supported to make a compensation claim. Agriculture Victoria will guide you through the process, including valuation and documentation.

You do not need to have a pre-prepared livestock inventory or formal valuations in place to be eligible for compensation. However, keeping accurate and up-to-date records of livestock, products and property can assist timely processing in the event of a compensation claim.

Reporting an emergency animal disease

Report any unusual signs or suspected cases of emergency animal disease immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. Early reporting increases the chance of effective control and eradication.