Sheep – Entry Requirements for Victoria
Identification requirements
All consignments of sheep must be National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) ear tagged and accompanied by a fully completed National Vendor Declaration (NVD). A completed National Sheep Health Statement (SHS) is recommended (but optional) and where provided. Sections 3 and 4 of the SHS are optional.
National Sheep Health Statement
Recipients/purchasers of sheep accompanied by an SHS must keep the document for a minimum of 5 years, and make the document available to a DPI Inspector of Livestock on request.
Health requirements
All sheep must be free of Notifiable diseases. Diseased sheep may only enter Victoria under licence, usually only direct for slaughter at an abattoir. In some limited circumstances a licence to introduce the animals to another Victorian property may be granted. Licences are issued by the Animal Biosecurity and Welfare, DPI Bendigo. Note there is an exemption in place for ovine Johne’s disease – see below.
Application and licence to introduce diseased livestock into Victoria for immediate slaughter
Application and licence to introduce diseased livestock into Victoria to an approved property
In addition to the above, see below for conditions related to specific diseases.
Ovine Johne’s disease (paratuberculosis)
In relation to ovine Johne’s disease (paratuberculosis), sheep may enter Victoria for any purpose with an Assurance Based Credit score (ABC) of zero (0) points or greater, ie including from Infected and Suspected to be Infected flocks. Clinically diseased sheep are unlikely to be fit to load and should not be imported.
Vendors in Victoria are strongly encouraged to supply prospective purchasers with information about the risk associated with ovine Johne’s disease (paratuberculosis) posed by their stock. This can be done by utilising the Assurance Based Credit scheme and use of the SHS. Purchasers of interstate sheep are strongly recommended to request a SHS when considering buying sheep from interstate to enable them to assess the risk posed by those sheep. Interstate producers exporting sheep to Victoria are strongly recommended to provide a SHS routinely.
For further information about Johne’s disease see the Animal Health section of this website, or the Animal Health Australia website.
Ovine Brucellosis (OB)
Rams entering the Mallee Ovine Brucellosis Control Area require a completed Ovine Brucellosis Vendor Declaration, in addition to a completed National Sheep Health Statement.
Rams entering the Mallee OB Control Area must have been on the property of origin since birth, or a minimum of 2 years; or the flock of origin is OB Accredited Free; or with no evidence of OB in the last 12 months, and the rams have a negative OB blood test within the last 14 days and no palpable scrotal abnormalities in the 7 days prior to the sale or introduction.
Ovine Brucellosis Vendor declaration
Rams entering other parts of Victoria must be tagged, accompanied by a NVD and free of disease as for other sheep.
