Communication with stakeholders The department engages with the horse industry on equine biosecurity through the Horse Industry Consultative Committee (HICC). HICC members discuss technical, operation, policy and strategic issues related to horse imports, exports, and biosecurity and market access. Membership consists of: Australian Horse Industry Council Australian Veterinary Association Equestrian Australia Equine International Airfreight Equine Veterinarians Australia Harness Racing Australia Inc. International Racehorse Transport Pty Ltd New Zealand Bloodstock Pty Ltd Racing Australia Racing NSW/Canterbury Park International Horse Centre Racing Victoria/Werribee International Horse Centre Thoroughbred Breeders Australia. The HICC is a valuable engagement mechanism, but wider communication to other significant stakeholders would be useful. State and territory government consultation In discussions with the Victorian Government Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), I learned that Mickleham facility staff had little routine and ongoing communication with Victorian Government officials. The CVO reported that staff from these agencies had not met in over 18 months to discuss horse (and other animal) importation issues. He would like regular information and feedback from the department, including: animals arriving without proper documents or before documents are cleared in Australia consultation after detection of a biosecurity concern before an animal is released into the state an annual report on any disease detections in quarantine. The Mickleham facility is the main holding facility for imported animals before they are released from biosecurity control. Given that it is located in Victoria, the Victorian Government CVO should attend stakeholder meetings held at the facility and summary reports from Mickleham should be sent periodically to all CVOs across Australia. HICC meeting outcomes should also be circulated to all CVOs and Animal Health Australia to ensure their awareness of horse biosecurity issues. Post-arrival quarantine facility managers Neither of the managers of the industry-run PAQ sites at Werribee or Canterbury Park had visited the Mickleham facility. Key staff from these industry-run PAQ sites and other relevant stakeholders, including state government veterinary authorities, should meet periodically (for example, every two years) at Mickleham to reinforce awareness of and commitment to good biosecurity practice and ensure transparency in the application of standards in different PAQs.
Communication with stakeholders The department engages with the horse industry on equine biosecurity through the Horse Industry Consultative Committee (HICC). HICC members discuss technical, operation, policy and strategic issues related to horse imports, exports, and biosecurity and market access. Membership consists of: Australian Horse Industry Council Australian Veterinary Association Equestrian Australia Equine International Airfreight Equine Veterinarians Australia Harness Racing Australia Inc. International Racehorse Transport Pty Ltd New Zealand Bloodstock Pty Ltd Racing Australia Racing NSW/Canterbury Park International Horse Centre Racing Victoria/Werribee International Horse Centre Thoroughbred Breeders Australia. The HICC is a valuable engagement mechanism, but wider communication to other significant stakeholders would be useful. State and territory government consultation In discussions with the Victorian Government Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), I learned that Mickleham facility staff had little routine and ongoing communication with Victorian Government officials. The CVO reported that staff from these agencies had not met in over 18 months to discuss horse (and other animal) importation issues. He would like regular information and feedback from the department, including: animals arriving without proper documents or before documents are cleared in Australia consultation after detection of a biosecurity concern before an animal is released into the state an annual report on any disease detections in quarantine. The Mickleham facility is the main holding facility for imported animals before they are released from biosecurity control. Given that it is located in Victoria, the Victorian Government CVO should attend stakeholder meetings held at the facility and summary reports from Mickleham should be sent periodically to all CVOs across Australia. HICC meeting outcomes should also be circulated to all CVOs and Animal Health Australia to ensure their awareness of horse biosecurity issues. Post-arrival quarantine facility managers Neither of the managers of the industry-run PAQ sites at Werribee or Canterbury Park had visited the Mickleham facility. Key staff from these industry-run PAQ sites and other relevant stakeholders, including state government veterinary authorities, should meet periodically (for example, every two years) at Mickleham to reinforce awareness of and commitment to good biosecurity practice and ensure transparency in the application of standards in different PAQs.
horse-importation-biosecurity-risk-mgt.docx