New Import Rule for Dogs going to Australia!

New testing requirements for leishmaniosis in dogs imported into Australia

Biosecurity Australia (BA), the Australian government agency responsible for the risk assessment and policy development for the importation of dogs into Australia, has advised the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) of a new testing requirement in the import conditions for dogs.

BA has advised that all dogs that are intended for export to Australia MUST be tested negative for Leishmania organisms.

The new certification for dogs intended for export to Australia requires that the dog was tested for Leishmania species within 30 days prior to export by an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), or an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), as described in the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) Manual, with a negative resultє. The use of any other test requires prior permission from AQIS.

The quarantine requirements for Leishmania species will be included in Section III: SANITARY INFORMATION of VETERINARY CERTIFICATE Aђ of the import conditions for dogs.

AQIS will be implementing the new condition for testing for Leishmania species from 1 September 2007 for all dogs imported from countries other than New Zealand. (The requirement applies for dogs imported from New Zealand if they have lived outside New Zealand).

AQIS information sheets on the importation of dogs into Australia and the web information provided to AQIS clients have been amended to reflect the new requirements. All import permits for dogs issued after 1 September 2007 will contain the new testing requirements for Leishmania species.

https://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/cat-dogs

For further information about this requirement or other issues concerning the importation of dogs or cats to Australia, please contact our section at the addresses and numbers below:

AQIS Live Animal Imports

Phone: +61 2 6272 4158

Fax: +61 2 6272 3110

Email: [email protected]