Australian Capital Territory
Animal Diseases (Exotic Disease Quarantine Area) Declaration 2007 (No 3)
Disallowable Instrument DI2007–227
made under the
Animal Diseases Act 2005, Section 19 – Exotic disease quarantine area

Explanatory Statement

Section 19 of the Animal Diseases Act 2005 provides for the Minister to make quarantine declarations.  This instrument revokes DI 2007-209 and replaces it with a new quarantine declaration.  A new declaration is necessary to prevent the spread of the equine influenza disease, which continues to be a threat in Australia.  

This declaration declares the entire geographic area of the Australian capital Territory as a quarantine area.  The declaration covers all animals in the Equidae family (eg horses, mules, donkeys etc).

The new declaration also recognises the changed circumstance to those that existed at the start of the current equine influenza crisis and, in addition, will work in coordination with the current NSW and Queensland jurisdictional responses to the threat.

The scheme which is set up under this declaration will lessen the current restrictions that have been imposed on horse owners and the horse industry in the ACT while maintaining a level of monitoring that is both justified and proportionate to the current risk.  

Under the instrument, movement of equines within the ACT is authorised provided the animal has not displayed symptoms of respiratory infection for 30 days prior to the movement and the person registers the movement of the animal with the Department of Territory and Municipal Services prior to its movement.  It is not necessary to register the movement of equines on the property where the animal is kept.

Movement out of the ACT is authorised provided the portion of the journey within the ACT has been registered.  However movement within New South Wales will need to comply with New South Wales requirements.  Entry from the NSW “Green Zone” is permitted, provided the subsequent ACT portion of the journey is registered here in the ACT.  Entry of animals from the NSW “Amber Zone” is authorised, but only if the movement has been permitted by New South Wales authorities.  No movements from the NSW “red zone” or “purple zone” are permitted.

Events involving equines may be held in the ACT, provided the event organisers register the event with the Department of Territory and Municipal Services, obtain registration details for all equines participating in the event before they participate and keep those details for 30 days after the event concludes.