means a stockperson who is accredited by the Australian Livestock Export Corporation Ltd (LiveCorp) for the management of livestock on vessels.

means a veterinarian who is accredited under the Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021 to carry out export operations in approved export programs.

means that food and water is available at all times with the quantity and frequency of consumption being the free choice of the animal.

means an abnormal, harmful or undesirable effect on an animal that causes anatomical or functional damage, irreversible physical changes, or increases in susceptibility to other biological, chemical, or environmental stresses.

means temperature and climatic conditions (such as rain, hail, snow, wind, humidity, heat, storms, cyclones, heatwaves and drought) that either individually or in combination, are likely to expose livestock to heat or cold stress, cause injury and/or result in other unfavourable animal health or welfare outcomes.

means the period from the time the first animal is loaded into a crate for transport by air (be it on the approved premises, other premises used for export preparation, at the airport or other), until the time the last animal is unloaded from the aircraft at the final destination. To calculate journey length, 24 hour periods are to be recorded in a single standard time zone — such as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) — for the duration of the journey. Also see flight.

means the same as livestock.

means the physical and mental state of an animal in relation to the conditions in which it lives and dies, as described in the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2021.

means complying with all the requirements of ASEL, the importing country requirements, the Export Control Act 2020 and the Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021 at the relevant stage of preparation for export.

means an approved arrangement that covers a kind of export operations in relation to prescribed livestock that is approved under the Export Control Act 2020 and the Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021.

means an exporter's program of activities, approved by the Secretary, for AAVs preparing livestock consignments for export or accompanying livestock consignments on ships.

means an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) that detects specific pregnancy-associated glycoproteins, including pregnancy-specific protein B, on serum or plasma samples. The test must be conducted by a laboratory holding the appropriate score of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for the test.

means a place approved under the Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021 for the pre-export quarantine or isolation of livestock for export by air.

means the document issued by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority under Marine Order 43 (Cargo and cargo handling—livestock) 2018.

means the authority established by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990.

means the guidelines for the responsible prescription of veterinary antimicrobials. They can be viewed online at: National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship (ncas-australia.org).

means, for the purposes of ASEL an Australian Commonwealth Government official authorised under the Export Control Act 2020 to perform functions in accordance with Australian export legislation.

means the rate (percentage) that is calculated by dividing the mortality rate for each species of the consignment, by the number of voyage days. Average daily mortality rate only applies to consignments exported by sea and is to be calculated at the end of the voyage.

means a government certificate, issued by an authorised officer, which states that the livestock meet the requirements of a specified importing country relating to the health status of the livestock.

means the export grouping of animals based on their end use, be it feeder, slaughter or breeder. The term breeder includes any subsets of this class such as productive heifers.

means a full day (midnight to midnight), not including the day of arrival at the registered establishment for export preparation or the day of loading for export at the registered establishment, during which livestock are not subject to any fodder or water curfew. Clear days apply to the animal, rather than at a whole-of-consignment level.

means for cattle and buffalo, a person accredited or permitted by the relevant state or territory legislation, agency, or industry body if accepted by the state or territory, to make a pregnancy diagnosis in the particular species. Competent pregnancy testers may only diagnose pregnancy for feeder/slaughter cattle or buffalo by manual palpation. For deer, goat and sheep, a competent pregnancy tester means a person who can attest to experience and skill in pregnancy testing of the particular species.

means a person who can demonstrate that they have the requisite knowledge, skills, experience, attitude and behaviour to perform the required activity, and has the ability to manage and handle animals humanely, efficiently and capably. Supporting evidence of competency includes:

• induction training; and/or
• records of on-the-job training; and/or
• recognised training and staff training registers; and/or
• relevant experience; and/or
• supervisor sign-off for specific tasks; and/or
• demonstrable ability.

Accredited stockpersons and AAVs can perform the role of a competent stock handler without supporting evidence.

means a group of livestock that are under export preparation by one exporter and are destined for export, or have been exported, from a single seaport or airport.

means a female bovine animal that has produced a calf or is over 3 years of age.

(also known as 'empty out' time) means the deliberate and variable period of water and/or feed deprivation.

means an additional percentage applied to the liveweight of curfewed animals to account for weight loss due to curfew, in order to more accurately estimate normal liveweight.

means an additional unforeseeable extension to the voyage duration above the estimated voyage length.

means the relevant Commonwealth government agency responsible for the regulation of live animal exports. At the time of publication of this standard, this is the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

means the unloading of livestock at any overseas seaport or airport. Disembarkation commences with the unloading of the first animal and ends when the last animal is unloaded from the vessel or aircraft at the port.

means the loading of livestock at any Australian seaport or airport. Embarkation commences with the loading of the first animal and ends when the last animal is loaded onto the vessel or aircraft at the port.

means the act of inducing death of an animal in a humane manner that causes immediate loss of consciousness and then rapid death, by a method approved under national animal welfare standards and guidelines, and model codes of practice, for the species where available.

means a permit issued by the Secretary, or delegate, under the Export Control Act 2020 to enable the export of live animals from Australia.

means a voyage that is 31 voyage days or more in duration. See also short-haul and long-haul.

means a general type of domestic sheep known for their distinctive large tails and hindquarters.

means any food intended for consumption by livestock, such as chaff, hay, pellets, or grain.

means at the next management procedure and / or within the timeframe that would be expected by a reasonable person with the relevant knowledge, skills and experience in the management of livestock given the urgency of the situation in relation to the welfare of the livestock.

means the animal:

• can walk on its own by evenly bearing weight on all 4 legs; and
• is free from visible signs of injury or distress or conditions likely to further compromise its health or welfare during transport; and
• is strong enough to make the journey and is not dehydrated or emaciated; and
• is not blind in either eye and can see well enough to walk, load and travel without impairment or distress; and
• has had adequate access to water prior to loading.

means the portion of an air export journey that begins when the first animal is loaded onto an aircraft and concludes when the last animal is unloaded from the aircraft at the final destination airport, and includes any transit stops en route.

means any sheep breed that grows hair rather than wool.

means the status of an animal with respect to animal disease and the importing country requirements.

means an assessment performed using a heat stress model that combines weather statistics, vessel parameters and animal heat tolerance factors to determine the pen space allocation for the livestock for an intended voyage to predict the risk of mortality or heat stress.

means a female bovine animal less than 3 years of age that has not produced a calf.

means a designated area reserved for the sole purpose of special care of weak, sick or injured animals. Requirements for hospital pens can be found in Marine Order 43.

means the document titled Live Animal Regulations published by the International Air Transportation Association as it exists from time to time.

means an animal that has not reached sexual maturity and is not displaying secondary sexual characteristics typical for the species such as descended testes, signs of being in heat (oestrous), udder maturity or antlers. Typically, an immature animal is yet to exhibit behavioural changes such as dominance, riding, or aggression.

means:

• the conditions of the relevant importing country protocol; and/or
• the conditions imposed by an importing country, any relevant import permit, dispensation or approved equivalency agreement.

means a method of identifying each animal in a way that is permanent or semi-permanent as to be individually identifiable for the entire period of export preparation, and the voyage or air export journey.

means the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for the Land Transport of Livestock published by Animal Health Australia (21 September 2012).

means a method of finding new values at positions between two data points.

The formula is: y = y₁ + ((x – x₁) * (y₂ – y₁)) / (x₂ – x₁)

For the purposes of ASEL, this is where x is the known value (the animal's liveweight in kilograms - Liveweight [kg]), y is the unknown value (Minimum pen area [m²/head]), x₁ and y₁ are the liveweight and pen area below the known value in the ASEL table, and x₂ and y₂ are the liveweight and pen area above the known value in the ASEL table.

For example, to find the pen area for a 23kg animal in the below example:

y = y₁ + ((x – x₁) * (y₂ – y₁)) / (x₂ – x₁)

• x is the known value (23kgs)
• y is the unknown value (i.e. the Minimum pen area [m²/head])
• x₁ and y₁ are the table values that are below the known value (x₁ = 20kg, y₁ = 0.238), and
• x₂ and y₂ are the table values that are above the known value (x₂ = 30kgs, y₂ = 0.311)

Minimum pen area for 23kg animal = 0.26m²

A graphical representation of linear interpolation is contained in Figure 1.

Figure 1 Graphical representation of linear interpolation

Source: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

means the same as defined under the Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021.

or load plan means a plan which details the number and species of livestock, where they will be placed on the vessel or aircraft and how much space they are allocated.

means a voyage that is 10 voyage days or more in duration, but less than 31 voyage days. See also short-haul and extended long-haul.

means a plan approved under an exporter's approved arrangement detailing how the exporter will manage the risks associated with undertaking certain activities.

means Marine Order 43 (Cargo and cargo handling—livestock) 2018 made under the Navigation Act 2012.

means the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Vessels, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating to (MARPOL 73/78). Annex V: Prevention of pollution by garbage from vessels.

means an animal that has reached sexual maturity or is displaying secondary sexual characteristics typical for the species such as descended testes, signs of being in heat (oestrous), udder maturity or antlers. Mature animals may show behaviours such as dominance, riding, or aggression.

means the codes of practice for minimum welfare standards and practices for a range of livestock species. A link to the model codes of practice can be found at awe.gov.au/animal/welfare/standards-guidelines.

means the rate (percentage) that is calculated by dividing the number of deaths of a species occurring during the voyage or air export journey, for each export consignment in the case of a shared vessel or aircraft, by the total number of that species loaded and multiplying the resultant figure by 100. See also average daily mortality rate.

means the welfare standards and guidelines that provide legal requirements and recommended practices for the welfare of livestock. A link to the National Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines can be found at awe.gov.au/animal/welfare/standards-guidelines.

means Australia's system for the identification and tracing of cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats.

means a declaration that a livestock owner or person responsible for the livestock signs and acts to trace an animal's movement from premises to premises throughout its life. NVDs/Waybills link the traceability of livestock from the farm to other farms, through to saleyards, transport, and processing.

means an application made to the department by the exporter in accordance with the Export Control Act 2020 and the Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021.

means an incident that has the potential to cause, or has caused a serious adverse effect to the health or welfare of animals, as outlined in Standards 5.6.5 and 6.11.1.

means for each species, the mortality rate or 3 animals, whichever is the greater number of deceased animals, where notification to the department is required (see Table 22 and Table 37).

refers to sheep that have been sourced from the pastoral zone, as identified in Appendix A.

includes a box, platform, container or other arrangement used to form pens or stalls for the carriage of livestock by sea. Portable livestock units are required to comply with Marine Order 43, as they are 'portable equipment' under that Order. Requirements for PLUs are detailed in Appendix C and, where applicable, Standard 5.

means a period of quarantine or isolation of livestock prior to export, required by an importing country.

means the pregnancy detection accreditation program offered to members of the Australian Cattle Veterinarians group.

includes actions taken from sourcing livestock through to the completion of loading those animals onto the vessel or aircraft crate.

means a unique identification code allocated by the relevant authority in a state or territory to a block (or blocks) of land usually used for agricultural purposes.

means, for the purposes of ASEL, the premises or farm where the livestock resided prior to transport to the registered establishment, approved premises or, for air consignments, any other premises used for export preparation.

means a premises registered to prepare livestock for export under the Export Control Act 2020 and the Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021.

means a person in whose name the registered establishment is registered. See also registered establishment.

means the operations manual for a registered establishment that sets out how the premises will operate as approved under the Export Control Act 2020 and the Export Control (Animals) Rules 2021.

means a person who is registered under the law of an Australian state or territory as a veterinarian, veterinary practitioner or veterinary surgeon.

means, for onboard daily reporting purposes, midday to midday local vessel time, with the exception of the first day of loading and last day of unloading, arrangements for which are described in the department's policy on reporting. For the purposes of calculating days for voyage length, see voyage and voyage day.

means a declaration certifying an animal has been spayed, made by the owner or manager of the premises where the procedure was performed, including their name, contact information and signature. The declaration also contains the animal's individual NLIS identification number, date of procedure and type of the procedure.

means the countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

means a voyage that is less than 10 voyage days duration. See also long-haul and extended long-haul.

means the point in time at which livestock are selected for export preparation for a consignment intending to be exported, including 'spare' animals that may also be prepared that serve as a contingency (e.g. if final weight allowances permit or if other animals under preparation are rejected). This point in time may be before or after transport to the registered establishment, approved premises or, for air consignments, any other premises used for export preparation and must be prior to commencement of any pre-export quarantine or isolation, including required period of clear days.

means a stop made en route to the final destination airport, and the consignment changes aircraft.

means a stop made en route to final destination airport, and the consignment remains on board or is re-loaded onto the same aircraft.

means a declaration provided by an owner or person responsible for the livestock with the required knowledge of what is being declared, attesting to factors such as an animal's residency period at a premises, or if certain non-notifiable diseases have been present on a premises where the livestock have resided. This definition does not apply to National Vendor Declarations (NVDs)/Waybills, which are defined under National Vendor Declaration (NVD)/Waybill.

means the period from the time the first animal is loaded onto the vessel (the first day of the voyage) until the time the last animal is unloaded at the final port of disembarkation. Voyage applies to sea consignments only. See air export journey for information relevant to air consignments.

means each 24 hour period from the commencement of the voyage (or part thereof for the last day of unloading). Voyage day applies to sea consignments only. See air export journey for information relevant to air consignments.

means a continuous period that livestock do not have access to water. The criteria that must be included when calculating the total water deprivation time are:

• time off water during mustering and when yarded after mustering; and
• water curfew; and
• all the time in transit, whether moving or stationary; and
• any time without water after unloading, such as at a saleyard, spelling centre, transit/transfer point or registered establishment or approved premises or other premises; and
• any time without water after unloading from an aircraft in the importing country (for air consignments only).

means male sheep castrated at an early age before secondary sexual characteristics have developed.