Being involved in the production of livestock in Tasmania means that you have an important role to play in helping to protect your business, the broader industry and the state from the impact of pests, weeds and disease.
Listed below are some biosecurity actions you can take to meet your general biosecurity duty (GBD) and to help keep your business - and Tasmania - biosecurity safe.
Develop a Biosecurity Plan
Developing and implementing an appropriate biosecurity plan for your business is a key step that you can take. Biosecurity plans should contain actions aimed at preventing the introduction or spread of pests, weeds and diseases on your farm or production site. They are also a good way to educate staff and visitors on the importance of biosecurity. There are many on-line resources to assist with this – the
Farm Biosecurity website is a great starting point.
Important Biosecurity Actions
Biosecurity vigilance (also known as Notification of a Biosecurity Event)
If you
SEE something on your farm or production site that is unusual or of biosecurity concern, such as potential exotic plant/animal pests, weeds or diseases, or invasive animal species;
SECURE the site by restricting access (and limiting movement in the case of suspected animal diseases) AND take a photo, noting the location; and then
REPORT it to Biosecurity Tasmania as soon as possible - see reporting details below.
Please note: Taking samples in the field may increase the risk of spreading the biosecurity risk so Biosecurity Tasmania will provide further instruction regarding possible sample collection and submission.
Livestock and other animals
Engage the services of a veterinarian and maintain a working relationship to help manage the health and welfare requirements of your livestock (and other animals) as required.
Remain vigilant for any signs of disease within your herd - particularly foot-and-mouth disease.
Ensure that if you
sell or move livestock from one property to another, or transport animals for slaughter, all animals must be identified to NLIS requirements and travel with the correct documentation.
Ensure that when you move livestock from one property to another, or transport animals for slaughter,
all animals are fit to load for the intended journey and meet all other health requirements.
Apply animal welfare requirements, as described in relevant legislation, codes of practice, guidelines and quality assurance programs.
Never feed prohibited pig feed to pigs, Restricted Animal Material (RAM) to ruminant animals (for example, cattle, sheep and goats), or offal to dogs, and that ensure that visitors are not permitted to bring food onto the property for the purpose of feeding animals.
Regularly check gates, fences and enclosures and repair any damage to prevent the escape or entry of livestock or other animals.
Register your property with a Property Identification Code (PIC). Owners of a property with one or more head of cattle, sheep, goats or pigs, or that commercially farm poultry for meat or eggs, must apply for a PIC. Owners of properties with animals such as horses and alpacas, or that are engaging in any form of primary industries enterprise (including aquatic) are strongly encouraged to register for a PIC unless otherwise required. Your PIC should be updated at least bi-annually, or as your specific situation changes.
Send your livestock to an accredited abattoir for slaughter or engage a mobile butchery service to attend your premise to produce meat for your own consumption.
Engage veterinarian help for any sick or injured animals as soon as practicable. If death is confirmed, ensure that the carcass of any animal on or in the premises is buried, burned or otherwise suitably disposed of within a reasonable time after the carcass has been discovered. Ensure that dogs are not able to access offal from carcasses due to
hydatids risk.
Ensure that agricultural and veterinary chemicals are used as per label, or applicable off-label permit (i.e. appropriately to minimise risk to human health, animal health, plant health and the environment). Visit the website for information on
AgVet chemical use in Tasmania.
Pests, weeds and diseases
Importing items into Tasmania
If you are purchasing goods from outside Tasmania for your farm or production site (especially stockfeed, seeds, plants and plant products, or some animal products such as semen) you need to check whether they are permitted to be imported into Tasmania.
Contact and Reporting
Contact Biosecurity Tasmania for general information or to report a suspected pest, weed or disease:
Phone: (03) 6165 3777
Email: Biosecurity.Tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au
Alternatively, for reporting pests, weeds or diseases, you can call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline (1800 084 881) or the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline (1800 675 858).
Stay up to date on biosecurity in Tasmania
Subscribing to the Tasmanian Biosecurity Advisories is the best way you can keep yourself up-to-date and fully informed about Tasmanian biosecurity issues. Our Advisories cover topics such as changes or proposed changes to Tasmania’s import regulations, animal health and welfare, plant health, forthcoming regulation reviews and opportunities for public comment, new or emerging pest/disease risks and a range of other matters related to Tasmania’s biosecurity.
Follow Biosecurity Tasmania on Facebook.
Please note that this information contains minimum recommendations only. The GBD requires a person dealing with biosecurity matter or a carrier to take all reasonable and practicable measures to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk associated with the dealing. Such measures may not be specified in any regulations, guidelines or other official publications.