A review of Australia’s Merino export policy was undertaken in 2009 after which the Livestock Export (Merino) Repeal Order (No. 1 of 2009) was passed, to take effect 1 January 2010, thereby removing all restrictions on Australia’s Merino export trade.
The Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders has undertaken to continue its role as the peak industry body that oversees the quality of Merinos for export. Its aim in a deregulated environment is to streamline the entire process to ensure quality as well as speedy delivery and payment.
Below are the recommended guidelines on procedure for the export of Merino sheep and genetic material, commencing 1 January 2010. This is a working document and feedback is welcome from industry. This document has been revised in March 2010.
Protocol:
1. An overseas buyer and the selling agent and/or vendor must first of all determine if there is a current health protocol between the overseas buyer’s country and the product they wish to purchase from Australia. Checks need to be made on which countries have health protocols in existence with Australia for sheep breeder (live animals) embryos and semen. If there is no protocol, it is up to the buyer to contact his country’s biosecurity department and sort this out before proceeding further. If protocols appear to be in place, this is to be confirmed by AQIS and/or Biosecurity Australia prior to animals being selected. 2. Once the protocol has been established, an overseas buyer and the selling agent and/or Vendor should then agree who is to be contracted to complete the sale process through to completion. It is 3. A contracted person/company in conjunction with the buyer is to liaise with the buyer’s nominated import agent and obtain details of any special requirements in terms of documents for clearance. It is essential to ensure at the beginning of the process that the animals/genetic material being considered for export meet the requirements on the importing country’s import permit. 4. A buyer is to ensure that appropriate service provider links for purchase, quarantine, transport and delivery to country of destination are in place (see Recommended Contract Chain below). Farm visits and inspections are to be arranged in consultation with growers and/or agents. A buyer must agree to terms of trade, i.e. a non-refundable deposit to cover expenses, and full payment prior to departure. 5. A buyer/buyers’ full name, address, country, telephone, fax and email contact is to be provided to all parties. 6. All Merino animals/genetic material sold for export to come from a Merino or Poll Merino stud registered in the current Australian Stud Merino Flock Register. 7. An animal purchased for export shall bear an AASMB ear tag so as to positively identify it from all other animals. Contact relevant State Stud Merino Breeders Association if tag required. 8. A description to be provided by the Vendor that includes AASMB ear tag number and animal detail as per form 'Record of Assessment by Description'. The AASMB ear tag must be in place at the time the description is supplied and remain in place until delivery to the buyer. 9. The AASMB will provide upon request a pedigree certificate to the Vendor for completion, a taras statement and a 'Certificate of Compliance' to exporters that a sheep conforms to accepted standards of its type, based on 'Record of Assessment by Description'. A fee for service will be charged to the Vendor relating to ear tags and documentation. 10. The AASMB will accept no liability or responsibility for the accuracy of descriptions provided which shall be the responsibility of the Vendor. 11. Veterinary inspection must be prearranged for the buyer by the contracted person/company in respect of health and any other necessary examination required by the country of intended destination. Direct contact is to be made with an AI Centre to either obtain a quote or book animals in for PEQ. If animals are purchased from different studs, they are all to have been delivered to the Centre before quarantine tests begin. 12. Vendors intending to export must provide the necessary declarations as to the health status of the property of origin in relation to the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL) and requirements if any on the import permit. This declaration is to be verified prior to quarantine and list the ID for traceability of animals to be exported. The contracted person/company is responsible for obtaining the applicable documentation whether it be a letter provided from vendor’s veterinarian outlining diagnosed clinical cases of diseases on the farm for the past 5 years with dates, signed by the vendor for non notifiable diseases, and by the local DPI or AG Department for notifiable diseases, or in some other acceptable format. 13. Most health protocols state that if a positive result occurs whilst in quarantine, that animal is to be removed from the group, wait for a period of time and then retest all remaining animals. Buyer, vendor and contracted person/company need to agree during initial negotiations how to handle positive health tests should they occur, and the risk management steps that are to be costed in. One solution is to have back up animals included in quarantine to reduce the risk of short shipment. Another option that could be agreed to if a positive result occurs, is for the vendor to pay for the retest and the purchaser to pay for the additional agistment per day. However, whatever approach is taken, it must be agreed between the parties beforehand so that all quarantine costs are covered. 14. When organising overseas transportation, the contracted person/company is to ensure there is no cause for the ASEL rejection criteria to be enforced. Health and welfare is to be of the highest priority with particular attention paid to horned and pregnant animals. Unless otherwise approved, long horns should be no greater than one curl, and horns should be tipped if they could cause injury. With ewes, pregnancy status must be confirmed (if pregnant, cut-off is 115 days on day of export). Unless full wool is required, it is preferable for animals to be shorn, or have wool no longer than 25 mm, in order to decrease the requirement of 10% increase in room allowance and heat stress for tropical destinations including transit countries. Responsibility of Vendors:
Protocols 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13.
Once a vendor and/or agent is approached re a sale, the recommended process is: · Check with the buyer that – Ø Health protocol between country of destination and Australia has been established and confirmed by AQIS; Ø the quarantine process is in hand and the delivery arrangements have been made; Ø funds are available. · Once sheep have been selected, if they are not tagged, contact the State Stud Merino Breeder Association and arrange for an inspection and tag insertion. · Complete 'Record of Assessment by Description' and have tag inspector sign as a Representative of the State Association, then forward to AASMB for signature. If sheep were tagged at shearing inspection, the Vendor is to send the completed and signed description form to the State Association for signature and progression to 'Certificate of Compliance'. Responsibility of Buyers:
Protocols 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 13 and 14.
Once animals are selected and protocols adhered to, the weight and height of the individual animals are to be obtained as soon as possible by the contracted person/company in order to obtain a quotation for overseas transportation costs to country of destination. Recommended Contract Chain:
Once consultation has taken place, health protocols established and agreement reached on who is to be contracted, it is recommended that one contract for all services be entered into.
The contracted person/company – · must be able to process export sales from purchase through quarantine and delivery to country of destination. · is to sub-contract other service providers which may include agents and/or growers, an AI Centre, an exporter and any other export suppliers, the import agent nominated by the buyer and the transport company that will deliver to country of destination. · is responsible for the collection of funds from buyers and payment to sub-contracted service providers. It is strongly recommended that a non-refundable deposit and full payment prior to departure become normal procedure. The amount of non-refundable deposit is to be agreed between parties at the commencement of negotiations and/or be the percentage that is normal company policy. The deposit is to cover expenses likely to be expended particularly for health tests in the case of a cancelled shipment. Agents are responsible for their normal activities, i.e. selling the animals, and possibly buying if sub-contracted by the buyer and/or the contracted person/company. The contracted person/company pays an agent for this service, or the grower if no agent is involved, and then has the responsibility to continue the process through to completion.
*********************************************************************************************************
Please contact the Australian Merino Centre by telephone 02 9763 2744 or email office@merinos.com.au to obtain export documentation being – · Record of Assessment by Description · Pedigree Certificate · Certificate of Compliance · Taras Statement When AASMB tags are required, please contact the Flock Registrar at the appropriate Merino Association (from the list below) that is located in the State where the animals will be purchased.
© The Australian Association The Australian Merino Centre Telephone: 02 9763 2744 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
|