Importing Animals into Tasmania

​​​​​​​​​​​​​Tasmania has placed controls over the importation of animals, disease agents and restricted materials from other States or Territories. These controls are enacted under the Animal Health Act 1995​.

It is a condition of entry that all animals are healthy. Animals known to be in their final trimester of pregnancy, or showing signs of advanced pregnancy, should not be transported across Bass Strait. Animal welfare requirements for the transport of livestock across Bass Strait are outlined in the document Animal Welfare Guidelines - Transport of Livestock On Bass Strait, including the Animal Welfare declaration that must be signed by the transporter and master of the ves​​​​​​sel. See also Animal Health Australia's information on Stock Trac​​eability.

​​Transporting horses via ship:

  • These requirements must be met or horse vehicles will be turned away. Check your ability to meet these requirements before departing from your home property.

  • TT Line may have additional requirements for horse transport that you will receive at the time of booking. 

  • The owner and /or driver of the horse transport vehicle is primarily responsible for assessing the fitness of the horses and compliance with transport welfare regulations to undertake the journey and must declare in writing that horses are fit to travel in accordance with the regulations.

  • Information on the Animal Welfare Transport regulation 34 for horses can be found viewed onli​ne​. Further information can be found in this document:

     Animal Welfare Guideline - Land Transport of Livestock (PDF 1Mb)

  • Horses must be single stalled unless it is a mare and dependent foal.

  • Horse vehicles including 2 horse floats, have ventilation opening requirements for the 12 Hour Bass Strait crossing. For more than 2 horses on a vehicle this is 0.5M squared openings per horse.

  • Horse floats (containing two or less horses) must have openings for ventilation in the front and rear of the float, each measuring at least 0.4 m2.

Where no authority to import has been published you may email a completed Application for Special Authority to the Chief Veterinary Officer at AnimalDisease.Enquiries@nre.tas.gov.au. An authority to import may be granted if considered safe to do so.


Animals and necessary paperwork must be presented to a Biosecurity Inspector upon arrival in Tasmania. Inspection fees apply.

In this Topic

  • Import Risk Analysis - Pigeons
    Biosecurity Tasmania undertakes Import Risk Analysis (IRA) reporting processes consistent with national and international guidelines, when evaluating what pests and diseases are of greatest concern to Tasmania in association with imported goods, animals, plants and plant products, machinery and movement of people across its State borders.
  • Animals That Can be Imported With Entry Requirements
    Animals that can be imported to Tasmania, provided they meet the required import conditions.
  • Animals That Can't be Imported
    Animals, disease agents or restricted materials which are not listed as Unrestricted Entry or Animal with Entry Requirements on this website MAY NOT BE IMPORTED.
  • Unrestricted Entry
    A list of animals with unrestricted entry requirements for importation into Tasmania.

​See also:  

Wildlife Imp​orts

Wildlife E​xports​

Contact

Biosecurity Tasmania (Biosecurity) Enquiries
13 St. Johns Avenue
New Town TAS 7008
Phone: 03 6165 3777
Fax: 03 6173 0225
Email: Biosecurity.Tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au

Animal Disease Enquiries
13 St Johns Avenue
New Town TAS 7008
Phone: 03 6165 3777
Email: AnimalDisease.Enquiries@nre.tas.gov.au