Export Live Animals to Australia

• Horses
  • Health Certificates for Horses: Please visit Australia's BICON website to view the health certificates. The health certificates for horses are also available in the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS).    
    • Note: The health certificates for export of horses from the United States to Australia were updated in September 2019 (a summary of updates can be found here), December 2019 (Hong Kong was reinstated as an approved country), and September 2020 (department name updated to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment).
  • Horses - Appendix B - Additional Certification to be Completed when the Horse has Resided in the United States during the 60 days Immediately before Export from an Approved Country to Australia (198.29 KB) -August 2021
  • Appendix B - Guidance Document (176.48 KB) -August 2021 
    • Note: In addition to the export health certificate, Australia requires an Appendix B certificate when the horse has been in the country of export for less than 60 days: 
    • For horses traveling from the United States to an approved country and then to Australia (within the 60 days before export to Australia), the above Appendix B must be issued by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian and endorsed by APHIS.
    • For horses traveling from an approved country to the United States and then to Australia (within the 60 days before export to Australia), an Appendix B must be obtained from the country the horse resided in before traveling to the United States.
    • Appendix B can be issued retroactively, if required.
• Equine - Semen
  • Health Certificates for Equine Semen: Please visit Australia's BICON website to view the health certificates.
    • Note: The health certificates for equine semen to Australia were updated in April 2020 (change to requirements for EEE/WEE).
  • Equine Semen Collection Center - Inspection Checklist (17.77 KB)-July 2009 

APHIS Registered Aquaculture Export Facility approval is required for freshwater aquarium fish and marine aquarium fish.

Protocols available on Australia's BICON website for export from the United States to Australia:

• Fish for Laboratory Use (Zebra Fish)
• Freshwater Aquarium Fish
  • See import permit for inspection standards
  • Click here to view the list of permitted live freshwater fish suitable for import
  • BICON contains additional health certification criteria and procedures for gouramis, bettas, paradise fish, cichlids, poeciliids, and goldfish
     
• Marine Aquarium Fish
  • See import permit and BICON for inspection standards
  • Click here to view the list of permitted live marine fish suitable for import
    • Note: USDA, APHIS must endorse each page of the health certificate and species list. (The species list can either be in the body of the health certificate or a separate page on plain paper.)

Note: Effective September 1, 2021, Australia is making several changes to the wording of health certificates for hatching eggs. They do not reflect changes to the import requirements; rather they clarify the wording of existing conditions for consistency across different laboratories and exporting countries.

• Hatching Eggs
  • Health Certificates for Hatching Eggs: Please visit Australia's BICON website to view the health certificates. The health certificates for chicken hatching eggs are also available in the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS). 
    • Note: Approval for uplift - Consignments of hatching eggs require provision of a pre-export compliance statement at least three business days prior to uplift of the eggs, instead of a draft health certificate. A copy of the laboratory reports that will accompany the health certificate must be attached. The statement may be completed and provided by the exporter, USDA accredited veterinarian, or importer, and does not require endorsement by USDA APHIS. Click here to view an example of the aforementioned statement. The final endorsed health certificate with relevant attachments is required at the time of export.

Note: Please visit Australia's BICON website to view the health certificates for the commodities listed below.

• Bovine - Semen
  • Note: Bovine semen collected after February 6, 2023, must utilize one of the BICON listed testing options for bluetongue. Seasonal collection in a USDA designated bluetongue low incidence state will not be endorsed.
• Bovine - Embryos - In Vivo Derived
• Bovine - Embryos - In Vitro Produced
  • Note: Protocol and forms for handling oocytes and IVF bovine embryos for export to Australia

Note: Please visit Australia's BICON website to view the health certificates for the commodities listed below.

• Sheep - Semen
  • Note: Ovine semen collected after February 6, 2023, must utilize one of the BICON listed testing options for bluetongue. Collection in a bluetongue virus free, or seasonally free, country or zone will not be endorsed.
• Goat - Semen
• Sheep - Embryos
• Goat - Embryos

Note: Please visit Australia's BICON website to view the health certificates for the commodities listed below.

• Camelids
  • Note: Please contact your USDA Endorsement Office before proceeding.
• Canine - Semen
• Laboratory Animals and Germplasm
• Zoo Animals
• Giraffe - Semen
  • Note: Giraffe semen collected after February 6, 2023, must utilize the BICON listed recipient giraffe option for bluetongue. Seasonal collection in a USDA designated bluetongue low incidence state will not be endorsed.
• Elephant - Semen