Land transport

The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for the Land Transport of Livestock have been endorsed by the Primary Industries Ministerial Committee for legislation.

The standards are based on the current requirements contained in the Primary Industries Report Series - The Model Codes of Practice for the welfare of animals.

The land transport standards and guidelines cover the transport of livestock by road, rail and by livestock transport vehicle aboard a ship. They apply to the major commercial livestock industries in Australia: cattle, sheep, goats, horses, pigs, alpacas, poultry (broilers, layers, turkeys, ducks, geese, pheasants, guinea fowl, partridge, quail and pigeons), emus, ostriches, buffalo, deer and camels.  There are general standards and guidelines that are relevant to all species (part A) and a separate chapter for each industry (part B).

Livestock transport begins at the loading of livestock into a container or on to a vehicle and concludes on unloading of livestock at the final destination.  There is a chain of responsibility for the welfare of livestock that begins with the owner or their agent and extends to the final receiver of the livestock.

The standards and guidelines are relevant to all those involved in the care and management of livestock that are transported, including: owners, agents, drivers, transport companies, and livestock handlers at farming enterprises, depots, saleyards, feedlots, and livestock processing plants.

Animal Health Australia (AHA) funded by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has developed the livestock welfare standards and guidelines through a consultative process with industry, welfare organisations and government stakeholders. The process is defined in the Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines Development Business Plan (507 KB) .

The land transport standards development is the inaugural process and sets the foundation methodology for subsequent standards development.

Progress report

Legislation enactment scheduled for February - March 2010

PIMC meeting for endorsement - May 21 2009

PISC meeting for endorsement - March 2009

In September 2008 the land transport reference group endorsed:

• Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for the Land Transport of Livestock (2,145 KB)
• Regulation Impact Statement (2,114 KB)
• Public Consultation Response Action Plan (1,279 KB)
• Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines Development Business Plan (507 KB)