Dogs

On 17 May 2023, all requirements and conditions for importing animals and animal products into Tasmania were fully enacted under the Tasmanian Biosecurity Act 2019, (replacing the now repealed Animal Health Act 1995).

These import requirements and conditions can now be found within one easy to access document, the Tasmanian Animal Biosecurity Manual (TABM):

Tasmanian Animal Biosecurity Manual (PDF 1Mb)

Please make a note of the address for this new Manual, as the webpage you are currently viewing is scheduled to be archived.

Please contact Biosecurity Tasmania for further information on tel. 03 6165 3777, or email Biosecurity.Tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au

Requirements for bringing a dog into Tasmania

Tasmania is the only Australian state to be provisionally free of hydatid disease. To keep it that way, Tasmania has special entry requirements that you must meet before you can bring your dog into the State.

Tasmania is also not known to have an established presence of some dog parasites, including the brown dog tick. The brown dog tick transmits ehrlichiosis, a serious disease of dogs present in some parts of mainland Australia.

To help keep hydatids out of our state, and to reduce the risk of the brown dog tick infecting our dogs, Biosecurity Tasmania requires that a declaration be made by people bringing dogs to Tasmania. On their entry into Tasmania dogs will need to be declared as having been treated for hydatid tapeworm, and that they have also been checked for ticks.

The Declaration form is available on the Biosecurity Tasmania website:

Declaration by Owner or Importer for the Entry of Dogs into Tasmania (173Kb)

Hydatid disease

Hydatid disease is a serious and sometimes fatal disease of humans. It is 'caught' by being in close contact with an infected dog. An infected dog rarely shows any signs of being unwell.

For more information on hydatids visit the Biosecurity Tasmania webpage Hydatid Disease.

Ehrlichiosis and the brown dog tick

Ehrlichiosis is a serious disease of dogs caused by a bacteria (Ehrlichia canis) that is transmitted between dogs by the brown dog tick. Ehrlichiosis is now known to be established in areas of mainland Australia. Ehrlichiosis can be treated by your veterinarian if found early, but is difficult to treat and often fatal if not recognised in time.

For more information on ehrlichiosis and the brown dog tick visit the Bisoecurity Tasmania webpage Ehrlichiosis in Dogs.

Treatment to prevent hydatids tapeworm

Before a dog can enter Tasmania, its owner must have evidence that it has been treated with a dog worming product containing the active ingredient praziquantel, at a dose of rate of 5mg/kg body weight, within 14 days before entry to Tasmania.

This evidence can be:

An official statement/certificate from a vet stating the name of the dog, date of treatment for hydatid tapeworm, active ingredient name and dosage rate, Vet’s signature and contact details for the Vet clinic; or
A statutory declaration by the owner; or
Other evidence of treatment (such as the pill packet and purchase receipt) carried by whoever accompanies the dog into Tasmania.

If your dog arrives in Tasmania:

without the prescribed evidence of worming, or
if treatment was administered more than 14 days ago, or
your dog is returning to Tasmania after more than 14 days interstate,

you will be provided with tablets containing praziquantel by Biosecurity Tasmania during border inspection operations at your port of arrival.

A fee for service is issued to record this non- compliance. The owner will also risk an on-the-spot fine, in line with relevant legislation. Dogs must be treated with praziquantel at a dose rate of 5 mg/kg body weight within 14 days before entry to Tasmania with the following documentation:

A statement that they have been treated, made in writing by a veterinarian registered in the exporting state or territory; or
A statutory declaration that they have been treated, made by the owner in the exporting state or territory; or
Evidence of treatment such as the pill packet.

Further information on hydatids and the worming treatment of dogs can be found on the Biosecurity Tasmania webpage Hydatid Disease.

Exemptions from the requirement for worming

Dogs returning to Tasmania after no more than 14 days in another State or Territory are exempted from treatment if the owner provides documentary proof that this has occurred. Acceptable documentation is:

A statement obtained before leaving Tasmania from the Tasmanian Canine Association, the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, or the Office of Racing Integrity, that identifies the dog and contains the expected date of departure; or
A statutory declaration; or
Shipping documents that describe the dog adequately; or

They are exempted from treatment by an inspector because they are:

Dogs trained to assist the handicapped; or
Greyhounds that will be racing in Tasmania within six days of their importation, if this is confirmed by documentation from the Office of Racing Integrity; or
Puppies under the age of 12 weeks; or
Law enforcement dogs.

Declare your dog free from ticks

To keep their dogs healthy and free from ehrlichiosis, owners are also required to declare that their dog is healthy and free from ticks.

The owner of a dog that is obviously tick-infested may be directed by a Biosecurity Tasmania Inspector to immediately treat the tick infestation at their own expense upon entry into the state.

More information on how to check your dog for the presence of ticks can be found on the Biosecurity Tasmania webpage Ehrlichiosis in Dogs.