Moving cattle into Victoria
All cattle entering Victoria must:
- have an approved National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) device
- be accompanied by a completed National Vendor Declaration (NVD)
It is the responsibility of the owner or manager of the receiving property to record the cattle movement on the NLIS database.
All cattle carcasses, including bobby calves, entering Victoria in transit to a knackery must be NLIS tagged. You don't need an NVD for cattle carcasses.
Health requirements for imported cattle
All livestock brought into Victoria must be free of notifiable diseases.
Diseased livestock can only enter Victoria under a licence, usually only direct for slaughter at an abattoir. In some situations, we might issue a licence to introduce the animals to another Victorian property.
Diseased livestock forms
Application and licence to introduce diseased livestock into Victoria to an approved property
- Application and licence to introduce diseased livestock into Victoria to an approved property
[PDF File - 112.5 KB] - Application and licence to introduce diseased livestock into Victoria to an approved property
[MS Word Document - 133.4 KB]
Application and licence to introduce diseased livestock into Victoria for immediate slaughter
- Application and licence to introduce diseased livestock into Victoria for immediate slaughter [PDF File - 112.6 KB]
- Application and licence to introduce diseased livestock into Victoria for immediate slaughter [MS Word Document - 133.5 KB]
These licences are issued by Chief Veterinary Officer Branch at Agriculture Victoria.
Importing cattle from QLD, WA and NT
Cattle introduced into Victoria from Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory must complete the form:
- Introduction of cattle into Victoria from Queensland, Western Australia or the Northern Territory [MS Word Document - 136.5 KB]
- Introduction of cattle into Victoria from Queensland, Western Australia or the Northern Territory [PDF File - 105.8 KB]
Bovine Johne's disease (paratuberculosis)
From 22 October 2025, cattle infected with Johne's disease (paratuberculosis) can be introduced into Victoria without an approved licence as long as they're:
- correctly NLIS identified
- accompanied by a completed NVD
This is made possible by a blanket licence to introduce cattle infected with bovine Johne's disease into Victoria [PDF File - 158.6 KB]. The blanket licence is valid from 22 October 2025 to 21 October 2028.
LICENCE TO INTRODUCE DISEASED
CATTLE INTO VICTORIA
Livestock Disease Control Act 1994
Section 10
In accordance with the provisions of Section 10(4) of the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 (the Act), and clause 7(a) of the Order declaring a control area for bovine Johne’s disease and declaring prohibitions on entry of susceptible livestock into Victoria made under the Act and published in Government Gazette No. G51 on 16 December 2004 at pages 3415 – 2417, a person may bring into or cause or permit or allow to be brought into Victoria any diseased cattle infected with paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease).
PERIOD OF LICENCE: 22 October 2025 - 21 October 2028.
CONDITIONS OF LICENCE:
- The cattle must be identified in accordance with the National Livestock Identification System (Cattle).
- The cattle must be accompanied by a completed National Vendor Declaration.
Dr Scott Ison
Principal Veterinary Officer